#USA #Washington, D.C. #National Resident Matching Program #Fellowship Match #2025 Appointment Year

Overview of the 2025 Fellowship Match Results

On February 13, 2025, the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) released detailed data regarding its Specialties Matching Service® (SMS®) for the upcoming 2025 appointment year. This report serves as a vital resource for understanding the placement of residents into fellowship positions across a wide range of medical specialties.

Key Statistics

In the 2025 cycle, a total of 14,833 active applicants submitted rank order lists, competing for 14,620 fellowship positions across 6,334 programs. The report highlights that 12,390 positions were successfully filled, resulting in an impressive 83.5% match rate. This year saw an increase in available positions, with an additional 451 spots compared to the previous appointment year.

Specialty Details

Among the applicants, the interventional cardiology specialty was newly introduced to the matching service, offering 326 positions across 156 programs with an 83.4% fill rate. Alongside this addition, 31 of the 77 participating subspecialties achieved a remarkable fill rate of 90% or more, indicating strong interest and competition in many fields.

Notable Trends and Highlights

• - U.S. MD Graduates led the placement statistics with a fill rate that showcases the demand for key specialties: Complex Family Planning achieved a perfect match rate of 100%. Others, like Pediatric Surgery and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, followed closely with rates of 91.8% and 89.4%, respectively.
• - Conversely, specialties such as Sports Medicine and various Emergency Medical Services showed lower fill rates among U.S. DO graduates, indicating varying levels of competition.
• - Graduates from international medical schools completed the picture with notable matches in critical care and geriatrics, reflecting the diverse pool of applicants in the fellowship programs.

Observations on Applicant Diversity

This year’s data also underscores the diversity among matched applicants. Compared to 2024:

• - U.S. MD graduates matched sees an increase of 141 to total 6,808.
• - U.S. DO graduates matched are up by 128, bringing their total to 1,935.
• - There was a notable increase of 190 non-U.S. citizen matches, resulting in 2,252 total matches from this demographic.
• - U.S. citizen graduates from international medical schools also saw a rise, with 1,350 matches.

Evolving Reporting Structure

The NRMP has made significant changes to how results are reported. The previous 'Program Results' section has been removed to better accommodate the GME community's needs. This shift will enhance the understanding and context of matching trends over multiple years, providing deeper insights into the evolving landscape of medical fellowship opportunities.

Commitment to Quality and Relevance

Dr. Donna L. Lamb, the President and CEO of NRMP, emphasized the organization's commitment to maintaining high-quality resources that reflect the current demands and trends in medical education. The 2025 results not only illustrate the ongoing success of NRMP's matching process but also point to emerging trends that could shape the future of medical training in the U.S.

For a complete overview of available fellowships for the 2025 appointment year, interested parties can refer to the full data report provided by the NRMP, which breaks down information by specialty and applicant type.

In summary, the 2025 Fellowship Match data released by NRMP highlights the strong and competitive nature of residency placements, with a diverse range of candidates successfully entering various prestigious medical fields. This year's results mark a positive trajectory for both applicants and residency program directors alike, demonstrating that the Specialties Matching Service continues to evolve and adapt to the demands of the medical profession.