The 2018 Child Neurology Match was completed on March 16, 2018 under the auspices of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). This is the seventh year that child neurology positions have been filled via the NRMP. Prior to 2012, the positions were filled via the San Francisco Match. Some advanced data regarding the match have been made available by the NRMP with a complete set of data tables due to be released later in the spring. Importantly, some of the positions that were unfilled by the match may have subsequently been filled via the “Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), previously known as “the scramble”. The currently available advanced data tables do not take into account positions that were filled via SOAP. The match results for Child Neurology programs are summarized in three specific groups.
Categorical Child Neurology Programs (five-year programs that include two years of general pediatrics); positions that begin June 2018
Sixty-eight programs (69 in 2017) offered 134 categorical positions (128 in 2017) in the match. Of these positions, 129 were filled and five (from five programs) went unfilled. One hundred thirteen of the 129 matched slots were filled by US seniors.
Advanced Three-year Child Neurology Programs (applicants are required to match into a pediatrics program that is not necessarily linked to the child neurology program); positions that begin July 2020
Seven programs (11 in 2017) offered eight of these positions (11 in 2017) in the match. Of these positions, seven were filled and one went unfilled. Three of these seven matched slots were filled by US seniors.
Reserved Child Neurology Positions for either current pediatrics residents or other applicants with adequate preliminary training who would be eligible to start child neurology training in July 2018
Twenty-two programs (29 in 2017) offered 26 of these positions (33 in 2017) in the match. Of these positions, 12 were filled and 14 (from 13 programs) were unfilled. As these are all reserved slots, none of them were filled by US senior medical students.
In summary, for child neurology positions where neurological training will begin in July 2020, there were 142 positions offered and 136 were filled (96%), and for reserved positions were neurological training will begin this July, 12 of 26 positions (46%) were filled. Not taking into account any positions that may have been filled by SOAP, there are 20 unfilled positions compared with 25 in the 2017 match.
Positions for the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) programs were also filled by the NRMP and are also summarized in three specific groups.
Categorical NDD Programs that begin June 2018
Four programs (three in 2017) offered four positions (three in 2017). All four slots were filled, with three of these being filled by US seniors.
Advanced NDD programs not necessarily linked to a preliminary pediatrics program (applicants are required to match separately into a pediatrics program); positions that begin July 2020
Three programs (three in 2017) offered four positions (four in 2017) in the match. Two of these positions were filled (both by US seniors) and two programs did not fill.
Reserved NDD Positions for either current pediatrics residents or other applicants with adequate preliminary training who would be eligible to start Child Neurology/NDD training in July 2018.Six programs (two in 2017) offered seven positions (two in 2017) in the match. Two positions were filled in the match, with five positions from four programs not filling.
In summary, for NDD positions where neurological training will begin in July 2020, there were eight positions offered and six were filled (75%), and for reserved positions where neurological training will begin this July, there were seven positions offered and two were filled positions (29%). Not taking into account any positions that may have been filled by SOAP, there are seven unfilled positions compared with three in the 2017 match.
A more complete discussion of the 2018 match results that will include positions filled by SOAP and longitudinal trends will be presented at the Professors of Child Neurology meeting in October.