For the ninth consecutive year, the number of first-year (PGY-1) residency positions offered through the Match increased. A total of 23,421 first-year positions were offered in the 2011 Match, held earlier this month. This represents an increase of 612 positions compared to last year and an increase of more than 2,800 positions since 2002.

The number of IMGs, including Fifth Pathway participants, who matched to first-year positions decreased by 60 compared to 2010. Of the 10,477 IMGs who participated in the 2011 Match, 4,626 (44.2%) matched. In the 2010 Match, 4,686 (42.4%) IMGs were matched to first-year positions.

Of the 6,659 IMG participants who were not U.S. citizens, 2,721 (40.9%) obtained first-year positions. The number of non-U.S. citizen IMGs who obtained positions in 2011 decreased by 160 compared to last year.

Of the 3,769 U.S. citizen IMG participants, 1,884 (50.0%) were matched to first-year positions, an increase of 135 over last year. This is the eighth consecutive year that there has been an increase in the number of U.S. citizen IMGs matching to first-year positions.

Of the 49 Fifth Pathway participants in the Match, 21 (42.9%) were matched to first-year positions.

It is important to note that the total number of IMGs who will fill PGY-1 positions for the 2011-2012 academic year will be higher than the number obtaining positions through the 2011 Match. Although the majority of PGY-1 positions in the United States are filled through the Match, a significant number of IMG applicants obtain positions outside of the Match. For example, while 4,796 IMGs obtained PGY-1 positions through the 2009 Match, 7,335 IMGs entered PGY-1 for the 2009-2010 academic year.

The 7,335 IMGs entering PGY-1 for the 2009-2010 academic year is an increase of 59 over the prior year and an increase of 1,262 since the 2002-2003 academic year.