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Training and Education

Unraveling the Dynamics of Escalating Competitiveness in Diagnostic Radiology Residency Matching

Saturday, April 13, 2024
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM ET
Location: Foyer Kiosk

    First Author(s)

  • AP

    Akash Pathak, BS

    Medical Student
    California Northstate University College of Medicine
    California Northstate University College of Medicine, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • TW

    Tiffany R. Wong, MPS

    Medical Student
    California Northstate University College of Medicine, United States

  • JS

    Jean Shanaa, BS

    Medical Student
    California Northstate University College of Medicine, United States

  • AN

    Aleeha Noon, MD

    Resident Physician
    Department of Plastic Surgery - Geisinger Medical Center, United States

  • AD

    Anh Dang, MD

    Subchief, Breast Imaging Section - Department of Radiology
    TPMG North Valley, United States

  • MW

    Michael S. Wong, MD, MBA, FACS

    Professor of Surgery – Plastic Surgery, Associate Dean of Academic and Career Advising
    California Northstate University College of Medicine, United States

Purpose: Following a 153% increase in the number of diagnostic radiology (DR) applicants since 2008, this study provides insights on trends in the match statistics and surging competitiveness of DR to guide program directors’ assessment of applicants and aid medical students in bolstering their chances of matching.

Methods/Materials: A 15-year retrospective study was conducted utilizing the NRMP’s Annual Main Residency Match Results and Data (2008-2023) for DR match rates and Charting Outcomes (2007-2022) for United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1&2 scores, volunteer experiences, percent in Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), research productivity (number of experiences, abstracts, presentations, publications), and contiguous ranks for Matched DR Applicants (MDRAs), Unmatched DR Applicants (UDRAs), and All Specialties Matched Applicants.

Results: From 2008 to 2023, amongst all PGY-1 & PGY-2 DR residencies, the match rate decreased from 50.12% to 35.36% while the number of total positions increased from 1085 to 1149. For PGY-1 and PGY-2 MDRAs, the match rate decreased from 20.83% to 11.76% and 79.45% to 62.47%, respectively from 2008 to 2023.

Amongst MDRAs from 2007 to 2022, both mean USMLE Step 1 (235 to 245) and Step 2 (237 to 253) scores increased and mean research productivity increased 285% from 2.8 to 8.0. Amongst MDRAs and UDRAs, the percentage of students in AOA decreased from 25.8% to 19.3% and from 3.6% to 3.2%. The contiguous ranks for UDRAs and MDRAs increased from 3.0 to 7.5 (250%) and 12 to 14.9 (124%) respectively. The differences in the three applicant groups’ Charting Outcomes metrics were significantly different from one another (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Over the past 15 years, the number of applicants outpaced the number of new residency positions, and an upward trend in USMLE scores and research productivity cements the increasing competitiveness of DR. With pass/fail Step 1 scores moving forward, Step 2 may assume greater importance. It may ultimately behoove prospective applicants to invest time in research and apply broadly to obtain a greater number of interviews and corresponding contiguous ranks to increase their chances of matching into DR.