Geriatric medicine continues to be one of the least desirable specialties among medical school graduates, according to a report released Friday by the nonprofit National Resident Matching Program.
The report, “Charting Outcomes in the Match: Specialties Matching Service, 2018 Appointment Year,” discusses outcomes of the match for fellowship programs where medical school graduates gain additional experience after graduating.
Geriatric medicine, nephrology, child/adolescent psychiatry and neuroradiology were the least desirable of 63 subspecialties in 2018, based on the numbers of applicants who preferred those specialties compared with the numbers of positions available in each, according to the new report. Gastroenterology, cardiovascular disease, hematology/oncology and rheumatology were the most competitive subspecialties.
A total of 10,778 applicants from U.S. and international medical schools ranked positions and 8,753 obtained fellowship positions.
There were 174 applicants for the 387 positions offered in geriatrics, which works out to be 0.4 applicants per position, according to the NRMP. For each available position, an average of 0.2 U.S. allopathic medical school (M.D.) graduates, 0.1 U.S. citizen international medical school graduates and 0.1 non-U.S. citizen international medical graduates ranked the specialty first on their rank order list.
The good news for medical school graduates interested in careers in geriatrics is that they are likely to get into a training program if they apply.
Overall, 88.7% of U.S. allopathic medical school graduates, 68.1% of U.S. citizen international medical school graduates, 67.1% of non-U.S. citizen international medical school graduates and 76.1% of osteopathic medical school (D.O.) graduates matched to their preferred specialties.
In geriatric medicine, 100% of U.S. allopathic and osteopathic medical school graduates, 97% of U.S. citizen international medical school graduates and 93% of non-U.S. citizen international medical school graduates matched to their preferred specialty.
