99 Percent of Osteopathic Medical Students Secure Residency Positions
June 20 2024 - 12:09PM
Today, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
(AACOM) proudly announces that a record-high 8,117 graduating
osteopathic medical students have been accepted into residency
positions for 2024, representing a 99 percent placement rate for
graduating seniors.
“This year’s graduates
overcame challenges faced by no other class before,” said AACOM
President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “To enter medical school
during the COVID-19 pandemic, then go on to achieve a 99 percent
placement rate is an outstanding accomplishment in the face of
adversity, upheaval and change.”
The comprehensive
placement numbers reflect the variety of paths available for
residency placement. While the National Resident Matching Program
(NRMP)’s Main Residency Match saw a record number of DOs matching
during Match Week, other opportunities for students to place
include the Military Match, the San Francisco and Urology matches
and the NRMP’s Supplemental Offer and Assistance Program.
A record 8,033
osteopathic medical students participated in the NRMP’s Main
Residency Match in 2024, with 8,195 seeking placement through all
avenues.
“While we celebrate the
achievements of our new DOs, we remain steadfast in our commitment
to ensuring a fair and accessible residency application, interview
and matching process for our students,” added Dr. Cain. “The NRMP
reports that 32 percent of residency program directors never or
seldom interview DO candidates, and of those who do, 56 percent
require our students to take an additional licensing exam to even
be considered. We will continue our advocacy efforts with our peer
organizations and Congress until this unfairness is
resolved.”
AACOM is supporting the
Fair Access In Residency (FAIR) Act to help address this issue.
This bipartisan bill would ensure that Medicare-funded residency
programs accept DO applications and the DO licensing exam, the
COMLEX-USA. For more information on AACOM, recent residency data
and the Fair Act, go to www.aacom.org.
About
AACOM:
Founded in 1898, the
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is
the leading voice for the education and training of physicians who
practice osteopathic medicine in settings across the medical
spectrum—from primary care to the full range of medical
specialties. We support our member colleges of osteopathic medicine
in their efforts to attract and train individuals who are fueled by
a desire to make a difference in our healthcare system by treating
the whole person and building a future emphasizing health and
wellness for all people. Today, more than 36,000 future
physicians—25 percent of all U.S. medical students—are being
educated at one of our 41 accredited colleges of osteopathic
medicine, encompassing 66 teaching locations in 35 states. To learn
more about AACOM, please visit our website.
Joseph Shapiro
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
240-938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org