The success of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in pursuing graduate medical education (GME) in the United States has reached new heights, with significant increases observed in the number of physicians obtaining first-year training positions. According to the results of the 2024 Main Residency Match® (The Match®) announced by the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®), the trajectory of IMGs continues to ascend, underlining their crucial role in the U.S. healthcare system.
First and foremost, the statistics reflect a robust surge in the availability of first-year residency positions offered. In 2023, there were 37,245 positions, a number that escalated to 38,494 in 2024, marking a notable 2.9% increase.
Among the first-year matched applicants, a total of 9,045 IMGs secured residency positions in accredited U.S. GME programs. This figure represents an impressive 7.8% rise from the previous year. Notably, IMGs constituted more than one-quarter of all matched applicants, comprising 25.1% of the total.
Delving deeper into the demographics, the numbers reveal that 3,181 of the matched IMGs are U.S. citizens, while the remaining 5,864 are non-U.S. citizens. Although there was a slight decrease of 175 in U.S. citizen IMGs compared to the previous year, the number of non-U.S. citizen IMGs surged by 832, signifying a burgeoning interest in pursuing GME opportunities in the United States.
Despite record-high applicant participation, the match rates for both U.S. citizen and non-U.S. citizen IMGs remained steadfast, with less than a one percentage point difference from the preceding year. The match rate for U.S. citizen IMGs stood at 67.0%, while non-U.S. citizen IMGs had a match rate of 58.5%.
The specialties with the highest percentage of first-year positions filled by IMGs encompass a diverse range, including Internal Medicine (43%), Pathology (37.4%), Family Medicine (31.8%), and Neurology (29.5%). Notably, Non-U.S. citizen IMGs saw significant increases in matches to Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, demonstrating their versatility and adaptability across specialties.
U.S. Citizen IMGs made substantial contributions to various specialties, with notable numbers securing positions in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Pathology. Similarly, Non-U.S. Citizen IMGs made significant strides in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Pathology, underlining their vital role in meeting the diverse healthcare needs of communities across the nation.
Eric S. Holmboe, MD, President and CEO of Intealth™, emphasized the pivotal role of IMGs in addressing the evolving healthcare landscape in the United States. He underscored the importance of supporting IMGs as they progress in their training, ensuring a diverse and highly qualified pool of physicians equipped to meet the needs of a growing patient population.
In conclusion, the 2024 Main Residency Match reaffirms the indispensable contributions of IMGs to the U.S. healthcare system. As they continue to excel in securing highly competitive training positions, IMGs play a vital role in enriching the diversity and quality of healthcare delivery across specialties and communities nationwide.
Source: ECFMG
