OTTAWA, April 12, 2019 /CNW/ - The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) released detailed data and insights from the 2019 R-1 Main Residency Match (R-1 match) today. CEO John Gallinger presented the information in the annual CaRMS Forum at the Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME) in Niagara Falls. The R-1 match, managed by CaRMS, is an integral step on the path to practicing medicine in Canada.
"One of the main takeaways from the 2019 R-1 match outcomes is a significant decrease in the number of unmatched Canadian medical graduates," said CaRMS CEO John Gallinger. "But there are also some other interesting themes – including an increase in opportunities across the country, and the fact that many disciplines are in increasingly high demand."
Fewer current year Canadian medical graduates (CMGs) went unmatched in the 2019 R-1 match, with the percentage unmatched after the second iteration falling to 1.1 per cent (31) from 2.4 per cent (69) in 2018. This number is at its lowest since 2011.
The number of positions in the match was at its highest ever – 3,346. The ratio of available positions to CMG applicants also rose to 1.029, the highest level it has reached since 2015.
This year, many disciplines experienced more demand than in previous years. A total of 45.3 per cent of CMGs' first choice disciplines had more demand than available positions, compared to 39.1 per cent last year. Two large disciplines – Internal Medicine and Psychiatry – were among those experiencing increased demand. While positions in both of these disciplines increased, the additional demand outstripped the increase in supply.
"This concentrated interest can create a challenge, particularly for applicants with an exclusive focus on a discipline that is in high demand," Gallinger explained.
The CaRMS Forum presentation, available on carms.ca, offers a wealth of insights into the 2019 R-1 match inputs and outcomes, as well as multi-year trend data.
SOURCE Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS)
Lisa Turriff, Manager, Marketing and Communications, 1.613.237.0075 ext. 5900, [email protected]
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