Despite fears the growth of medical school graduates is outpacing the growth of graduate medical education slots, a study published Tuesday in JAMA found the percentage of U.S. graduates entering GME programs within the first year of graduation has remained steady from 2005 to 2015.
Researchers examined graduates of all allopathic medical schools in the U.S. from 2005 to 2015 using the Association of American Medical Colleges Student Record System to see if graduates entered GME training.
In this time period, the percentage of graduates unplaced in GME programs during the year they graduated from medical school ranged from 2.6 percent to 3.5 percent, and averaged 3 percent. Within six years of graduation, 99 percent of graduates started GME programs or were practicing in the U.S., according to the report.
However, minorities were less likely to begin GME in their graduation year than their white counterparts. This gap also grew over time: Unplaced black, Hispanic and non-U.S. citizen graduates increased over the study period, according to the report.
More articles on integration and physician issues:
Wayne State School of Medicine restructures itself amid financial losses
Partners CEO backs concurrent surgeries
Valley Health System adds 8 residency programs