The Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates reports that 3,962 foreign physicians matched with residency programs in the recent 2018 National Residency Match. That represented 56% of applicants and an increase of 148 positions and the seventh straight year that number has increased. It’s also the highest since 1993.
The numbers may be increasing because overall residency slots available in the Match are increasing. 30,322 slots were available in the Match, an increase of 4.8% over 2017 and 9,500 new slots since 2002. The US has been facing a dire physician shortage and the increase in residency slots could help address this crisis. There have also been more American medical school graduates who need the additional residency slots.