Record Number of Osteopathic Medical Students Placed Into 2021 Residency Positions
Published August 04, 2021
2021
98 percent of DO seniors match; overall percentage of placements filled by DO seniors rises
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Bethesda, MD) – After compiling all the data from its member colleges, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) today congratulated the largest class of DO students to ever participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)’s Match Week for a 98 percent match rate.
Even after the NRMP’s Match Week, DO graduates continued to achieve placement in postgraduate training. In 2021, 76 additional graduating DOs were placed in postgraduate training positions for a total placement rate of 99 percent of those seeking graduate medical education (GME) by June 30, 2021. A record 6,907 new osteopathic physicians began their residency training in July 2021. The percentage of overall residency positions filled by US DO seniors in the NRMP Match also rose to 18 percent, a 0.6 percent increase from last year.
“In such an uncertain year with so many unprecedented difficulties, we are very pleased and proud of the continued success of our osteopathic medical school graduates,” said AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “Despite COVID-19 restrictions and increased competition, DO students matched at impressive rates while the overall percentage of residency positions filled by DOs also rose. Our colleges can take great pride in the role they played in helping their students succeed while responding to the many challenges of COVID-19.”
This was the second NRMP Match to take place since the full implementation of the single GME accreditation system. With the record number of participants and the impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the Match, matching rates for both DO and MD students did dip slightly, as expected. The pandemic affected opportunities for all students, while the reduction of travel to away rotations and an all-virtual residency interview season were particularly difficult for students from lesser-known or newer medical schools, such as osteopathic medical students.
“We have seen record numbers of applications to osteopathic medical schools this application cycle, and the success of our students matching to residencies across all specialties will only help nurture that growth. We are very proud that the principles of osteopathic medicine continue to resonate with so many future physicians and patients,” added Dr. Cain.
The full 2021 Match Report can be found by clicking here.
About AACOM
The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) leads and advocates for the full continuum of osteopathic medical education to improve the health of the public. Founded in 1898 to support and assist the nation's osteopathic medical schools, AACOM represents all 37 colleges of osteopathic medicine—educating nearly 34,000 future physicians, 25 percent of all US medical students—at 58 teaching locations in 33 US states, as well as osteopathic graduate medical education professionals and trainees at US medical centers, hospitals, clinics and health systems.
Contacts
Joseph Shapiro
AACOM Director of Media Relations
(240) 938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org
Christine DeCarlo
AACOM Media and Public Affairs Manager
(202) 603-1026
cdecarlo@aacom.org