The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) delivered its largest residency Main Residency Match Day ever on March 19, despite challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 38,106 positions were offered, the most ever, and 35,194 first-year positions were offered, an increase of 928 (2.7%) compared with 2020 numbers. Similarly, a record-high of 5,915 programs participated in the match, 88 more than 2020. The NRMP said the growth is due to transitioning to the single accreditation system for allopathic and osteopathic programs.
Regarding fill rates, of the total positions available, 36,179 were filled, which is a 2.6% increase when compared with the same rate last year. A total of 1,927 positions remain unfilled, which is a decline of 3.6% compared with 2020.
In terms of the applicants themselves, 48,700 applied, which is an increase of 8.3% and the largest single-year bump in recorded history, according to the NRMP.
There were 986 postgraduate year (PGY)-2 positions and 122 PGY-1 positions offered in diagnostic radiology in the 2021 match; interventional radiology offered 121 PGY-2 positions and 41 PGY-1 positions, while radiation oncology offered 173 PGY-2 positions and 15 PGY-1 positions. The fill rate for each discipline is below:
| Percentage of programs filled by MD seniors in 2021 Main Residency Match | |||
| Radiation oncology | Interventional radiology (integrated) | Radiology-diagnostic | |
| PGY-1 | 80.0% | 92.7% | 96.7% |
| PGY-2 | 79.8% | 96.7% | 99.3% |
| Physician | 60.0% | 100% | 74.2% |
Concerns about virtual recruitment impacting applicants into first-year positions were not realized, the NRMP said.
