Anticipated Supply and Demand for Independent Interventional Radiology Residency Positions: A Survey of Department Chairs.
OBJECTIVE
The first participants in the independent interventional radiology (IR) residency match will begin prerequisite diagnostic radiology (DR) residencies before the anticipated launch of the independent IR programs in 2020. The aim of this study was to estimate the competitiveness level of the first independent IR residency matches before these applicants have already committed to DR residencies and possibly early specialization in IR (ESIR) programs.


METHODS
The Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments (SCARD) Task Force on the IR Residency distributed a survey to all active SCARD members using SurveyMonkey. The survey requested the number of planned IR residency and ESIR positions. The average, minimum, and maximum of the range of planned independent IR residency positions were compared with the average, maximum, and minimum, respectively, of the range of planned ESIR positions, to model matches of average, high, and low competitiveness.


RESULTS
Seventy-four active SCARD members (56%) answered at least one survey question. The respondents' programs planned to fill, in total, 98 to 102 positions in integrated IR residency programs, 61 to 76 positions in independent IR residency programs, and 50 to 77 positions in ESIR DR residency programs each year. The ranges indicate the uncertainty of some programs regarding the number of positions.


CONCLUSIONS
The survey suggests that participating programs will fill sufficient independent IR residency positions to accommodate all ESIR applicants in a match year of average or low competitiveness, but not in a match year of high competitiveness. This suggestion does not account for certain difficult-to-predict factors that may affect the independent IR residency match.
Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: sanna.herwald@tufts.edu.
Sanna E
SE
Herwald
Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia.
James B
JB
Spies
Department of Radiology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
E Kent
EK
Yucel
D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce
ESIR; Interventional radiology residency; Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments; early specialization in interventional radiology; interventional radiology; residency match