1156 Trends in Matching in GI Fellowship: Data From NRMP

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Gastroenterology (GI) fellowships continue to be highly sought after by internal medicine residents interested in pursuing subspecialty training. A recent study reported that GI fellowships had the highest number of applicants per available position among the major subspecialties. The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Specialties Matching Service® (SMS®) conducts Matches for fellowship positions. NRMP identified ten applicant characteristics that contribute to Match success: number of contiguous ranks, number of specialties ranked, USMLE scores, number of research, work, and volunteer experiences, number of publications, and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society membership. We aim to compare the temporal trends in these characteristics by comparing data in 2011 and 2018. METHODS: Data was collected from the NRMP booklet: charting outcomes in the match in 2011 and 2018. Four applicant groups are included in the report: U.S. allopathic medical school graduates (USMG), U.S. citizen international medical school graduates (US-IMG), Non-U.S. citizen international medical school graduates (Non-US-IMG), and U.S. osteopathic medical school graduates (DO) We compared various variables from 2011 and 2018 including the number of applicants and positions offered, type of applicants, USMLE mean scores, research experiences. RESULTS: The total number of positions offered in 2011 was 383 and the number of applicants were 648; making 1.7 application per position, the most per any other IM subspecialties. In comparison, the total number of positions offered in 2018 was 496 and the number of applicants were 758; making 1.5 applicants per position. Percentage of matched USMG, US-IMG, Non-US-IMG and DOs in 2011 and 2018 were as follows: 65 vs 61%, 7 vs 9%, 18 vs 23%, 4 vs 5 %. The mean step 1, step 2, step 3 for USMG has increased as follows 223 to 235, 230 to 248, 221 to 235. A similar trend is observed in other groups. The mean number of scholarly activity have increased significantly in USMG (3 to 11), US-IMG (6 to 13) Non-US-MG (9 to 21) and in DOs 5 to 10.9. CONCLUSION: The total number of fellowship positions has increased, however positions per candidate have been relatively stable. There has been a slight increase in the proportion of Non-US-IMG (∼5%), US-IMG (2%), and DOs (1%) in GI fellowship match in the year 2018 as compared to 2011. However, a slight decrease in USMG (4%) was noted. There has been increase in USMLE step scores and scholarly activity in all groups.