Professor of Research Rocky Vista University Ivins, Utah, United States
Objectives: The competitiveness of PM&R residency matches has risen, with prior research linking higher USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores, longer rank order lists, and more publications to match success for US allopathic applicants from 2007-2018. Recent NRMP data from 2020, 2022, and 2024 have not been fully analyzed for allopathic and osteopathic applicants, and COMLEX scores remain understudied. This study aims to update the literature by evaluating changes in applicant characteristics, such as research output and board scores, and assessing the impact of recent match process changes on 2024 applicants.
Design: We analyzed NRMP Charting Outcomes data from 2007-2024 for both allopathic and osteopathic applicants, including positions, applicants, rank order lengths, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores, COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2 scores, and research metrics. Simple linear regression was used to identify trends in research output and exam scores over time.
Results: From 2020-2024, average USMLE Step 2 scores increased, with MD seniors rising from 239 to 248 and DO seniors from 235 to 241. COMLEX Level 2 scores for DO seniors, previously increasing, decreased from 570 in 2022 to 547 in 2024. In 2024, MD seniors averaged 8.6 research outputs and DO seniors 6.8, showing increases of 104.8% and 119.4% since 2018. However, work experiences declined from 3.6 to 1.8 for MDs and 4.1 to 2.5 for DOs, while volunteer experiences dropped from 8.9 to 4.8 for MDs and 8.0 to 5.1 for DOs
Conclusions: PM&R residency remains increasingly competitive. Future NRMP data and the inclusion of Sigma Sigma Phi status for osteopathic applicants are needed for comprehensive trend analysis. The 2024 data highlights the impact of recent match process changes, such as limited away rotations and pass/fail grading, on applicant statistics. Awareness of these trends is crucial for candidates preparing for upcoming match cycles.
