Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the trends in the proportion of students from various educational backgrounds who matched into categorical general surgery (GS) residency positions.
Methods: National Resident Matching Program reports (1994 to 2014) were analyzed, and regression was used to estimate the trends for each group.
Results: The match rate into GS-categorical residency has remained stable; however, since 1994, we witnessed a 13% decrease in US seniors matching into GS. This has corresponded to proportional increases in matches for US citizens from international medical schools (US IMG, 1350%) and a 62% increase for non-US citizen international medical graduates (non-US IMG) into GS. In comparison, US IMG matches into all first-year postgraduate positions increased by 468%, whereas non-US IMG matches decreased by 15%.
Conclusions: The stable match rates into categorical GS residencies are not because of US seniors but rather because of a rise in the number of IMGs. In contrast to the decreased reliance on non-US IMGs in all other specialties, GS is accepting a larger proportion of non-US IMGs.
Keywords: Categorical positions; General surgery; IMGs; NRMP match; Residency; US seniors.
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