Radiology residencies remain as popular as ever, but the number of openings is declining -- a trend experts say won't change any time soon.
The number of applicants to radiology residencies has been growing steadily in the past three years, judging by results from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), released this month. More than 1900 medical school graduates who registered with the NRMP applied for a residency program in diagnostic radiology. Less than half were accepted.
Radiology residencies are attracting more students each year but the number of positions will decrease further as healthcare sees more consolidations that reduce the number of radiology residency positions available, according to Dr. Albert Moss, chairman of the residency review committees (RRC) for diagnostic radiology of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Moss' data on all residency programs, not just those covered by the NRMP, show a substantial drop in the number of radiology residency positions, from 4241 in 1995 to 4043 in 1998. The number of residents in diagnostic imaging decreased from 4881 in 1995 to 3987 in 1998.
"I only see the situation getting worse from here," he said. "For instance, the U.S. Army and Navy have merged their programs and many other healthcare institutions are going to do the same in near future for economic reasons. So I am afraid the trend is likely to continue."
The allure of high-tech innovative procedures for a computer-savvy generation and the increasing role of diagnostic practitioners in medicine may contribute to the popularity of radiology among medical students, experts point out.
"The cutting-edge technological methods used in the specialty make it a challenging field for students, who see it as an ideal combination of medicine and technology," said Dr. Reed Dunnick, president of the Society of Chairmen of Academic Radiology Departments (SCARD). Dunnick is also actively involved with the radiology residency program at the University of Michigan.
The number of applicants to the University of Michigan's radiology department has increased significantly over the last three years.
"Radiology remains an exciting and dynamic field and the initial shock of a mandatory clinical year before radiology has subsided by now," said Dr. Joseph Lee, president-elect of SCARD. "Maybe the intensity of the push for primary care by medical schools has decreased. Even if it has not, the students are getting immune to the sales pitch and starting to look out for their own interest."
— By Monika Dhingra
