Each year the emergency medicine (EM) community celebrates Match week, as we welcome another group of talented EM residents to our specialty. The 2022 EM Match saw an unprecedented initial 219 unmatched positions affecting one in four residency programs. The 2023 Match will see 555 initially unmatched positions, affecting a larger number of residency programs. Although these are challenging results, EM remains a vibrant and appealing specialty for many with almost 2500 new trainees already joining the EM family.
There are multiple factors leading applicants to favor other specialties over EM. Many have speculated about factors such as workforce projections, increased clinical demands, emergency department (ED) boarding, economic challenges, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the corporatization of medicine, among many others. To better understand these factors and define a path forward, a Match Task Force has been convened with broad EM organizational representation. The Task Force is working to identify factors that have led to an increase in unfilled EM positions and to develop strategies to mitigate them.
Given the recent pandemic and results of the last two Matches, this is a challenging time for EM. As we focus on solutions, we continue to work hard to support trainees, residency programs, and faculty. Our organizations will continue to search for ways to find the optimal balance between the demand for future emergency physicians and the supply of training positions. We will continue to advocate for our physicians’ ability to thrive in EM and meet their calling of providing the best possible care to our patients and communities. We will work to ensure medical students fully understand our specialty when making their residency selections by proactively showcasing the advantages and addressing negative perceptions.
The 2023 Match presents challenges and opportunities. We affirm our responsibility and commitment to engage actively. EM continues to attract talented and dedicated students and remains one of the most popular specialties for students. We are confident that programs with unfilled positions will fill with terrific new residents during SOAP. We welcome this amazing next generation of emergency physicians and their future accomplishments that will continue to advance our specialty.
