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To categorize trends in the popularity of the integrated interventional radiology (IR) residency among medical school seniors and assess changes in the level of applicant competitiveness required to successfully match since the integrated pathway's inception. The National Resident Matching Program's (NRMP) match data was compared from its first inclusion of integrated IR outcomes in 2018 with the most recent report from the 2022 cycle. Number of residency slots and candidates were trended over time, and factors reflective of candidate competitiveness including USMLE exam scores, extra-curricular experiences (research, volunteer, and work), additional degrees, Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor society membership, and medical school ranking were further evaluated. Chi-squared and paired t-tests were utilized for statistical analysis. The demand for integrated IR positions has declined among U.S. MD seniors, with the number of applicants in 2022 decreasing by 35.8% (n=72) from the 2018 peak of 201 applicants. Compared with 2018, applicants in 2022 had a significantly higher chance of matching (χ2 likelihood ratio, p< .0001). During this period there was no significant change in applicant competitiveness regarding mean number of volunteer experiences, work experiences, or research experiences. Mean USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores did not significantly change, but successfully matching in 2022 required 3.8 additional publications, presentations, and abstracts than in 2018. There was no significant change in the percentage of successfully matched applicants with PhD or master's degrees, remaining stably around 5% and 20%, respectively, between 2018 and 2022. Although the percentage of matched applicants who were AOA honors society members had decreased from 30.5% to 20.8%, integrated IR programs during that time period continued to draw around one-third of their matched applicants from the top 40 medical schools with the most National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. Since the introduction of the integrated IR residency, there has been a decline in applicant demand and an increased likelihood of successfully matching for those who apply. While most aspects of applicant competitiveness remained stable, importance of research productivity has heightened and emphasis on medical school pedigree remain. This work underscores the dynamic nature of the integrated IR residency match and offers guidance for medical students applying to the specialty and for program administrators.
Cyphers et al. (Wed,) studied this question.