The ECFMG® recently published 2019 Match statistics for International Medical Graduates (IMGs). In the 2019 Match, only 59.0% of U.S. citizen IMG participants were matched to first-year positions. Of those IMG participants who were not U.S. citizens, only 58.6% obtained first-year positions (Source: ECFMG®) While the percentage of IMGs matching was slightly better than last year, IMGs still face large challenges in the residency application process despite the US physician shortage.
International Medical Graduate (IMG) 2019 Match Statistics Are Out
Tags: IMG Match, Imgs, International Medical Graduates, NRMP
Start Your Engines…
The medical school cycle is revving up, and it’s (past) time to get started on your application. Here’s an article I wrote for Student Doctor Network called “Ten Ways to Improve your Medical School Application.” The piece includes statistical truths, strategies for optimizing your approach, and philosophical guidance.
Worth a Look: Medscape Female Physician Compensation Report 2018
Medscape’s annual Female Physician Compensation Report is out, and it’s thought-provoking on many levels. Among the findings from the 7600 female respondents:
The discrepancy in pay between the highest paid female physicians and the lowest is no small thing. Female plastic surgeons make $518K per year compared to Public Health and Preventive Medicine docs who make $180K.
Also, to my surprise, 50% of plastic surgeons are now female. (Only 8% of orthopedists are.) My field of emergency medicine is low at 21%.
Male primary care doctors make more than women in the same fields. Male specialists also earn more than their female counterparts. The disparity extends to several racial and ethnic groups as well.
What I also found very interesting is that to answer the question “What is the Most Rewarding Part of Your Job?” more women than men felt knowing they are making the world a better place was most rewarding (27% versus 20%), and more men than women said that being very good at what they do was most rewarding (26% versus 21%).
There’s more! Check it all out here.
As Featured on WCI…
Looking for a podcast for your daily drive or work out? Check out the White Coat Investor (WCI) podcast, where I was recently interviewed. For those of you who aren’t familiar with WCI, it’s a website/blog/podcast founded by James Dahle MD, an emergency physician whose interest in personal finance and the FIRE (financial independence – retire early) movement has sparked a slew of physician devotees. My interview focused on how Insider Medical Admissions helped me create autonomy and flexibility while balancing a clinical career and a family. Check it out here or on your favorite podcast app.
Tags: Career choice, finances, podcast, White Coat Investor
Why did ERAS crash during SOAP?
Congrats to all of those who Matched last week! And kudos for those of you who managed to make it through this year’s difficult SOAP.
During SOAP (Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program) last week, the server crashed, leaving many applicants and programs confused and scrambling (no pun intended). The 2019 Match Week and SOAP schedule was, therefore, revised such that all SOAP offer rounds were postponed and limited to Thursday, March 14.
At the time of this writing, it’s unclear what happened. Rumors are that the volume of participants was greater than in past years, leaving ERAS/AAMC unprepared. This might be the case with the opening of many new medical schools and a continued, relative dearth in the number of residency spots available. Read this article for a controversial – but interesting – take on why.
We’ll probably have to wait for this year’s Match numbers for any answers.
Tags: Eras, NRMP Match, residency, SOAP
Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital. She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more
Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on The Visible Voices podcast:
Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:
Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast:
