"Urology Match Day is an annual rite of passage and one of the most important days in the lives of many U.S. medical students and applicants from around the world," said SAU President, Byron D. Joyner, MD, MPA. "We are proud of the continued success of the Urology Residency Match and view the increased number of participating programs as a positive trend for the specialty, and a testament to the increased need and level of interest many have in urology."

Medical students begin their residency application process at the start of their final year in medical school. After applying to various registered programs across the country, select candidates are invited by programs for interviews, which are held in the fall and early winter. Once the interview period is over, both registered parties submit their preference lists to the AUA who has performed the Match annually on behalf of the SAU for more than 30 years.

"We are honored to be a part of this life-changing event," said AUA President, J. Brantley Thrasher, MD, FACS. "Each year we look forward to helping a growing number of medical students and applicants begin their journey to becoming urologists and are pleased to be a part of such a critical milestone for these talented young physicians." 

2018 Urology Residency Match Highlights

Results of the Urology Residency Match are closely watched because they can be predictors of future changes in physician workforce shortages and supply.

• A record 133 U.S. accredited training programs registered for the 2018 Urology Match, an increase from 130 in 2017.
• On average, participants submitted 70 applications, two more than in 2017.
• Programs received an average of 234 applications, 14 less than in 2017.
• Programs granted an average of 36 interviews in 2018. This is consistent with the average number of interviews granted in 2017 and 2016.
• Applicants completed an average of 11 interviews this year, and in 2017.
• Matched applicants had an average of 14.89 programs on their preference lists in 2018 compared to 14.09 in 2017.
• Total number of female graduates applying for urology programs declined slightly from 2017; however, the match rate stayed the same. This year, 79 of 106 female participants (75 percent) matched with programs, compared to 82 of 109 (75 percent) in 2017.
• The total number of previous U.S. graduates (not seniors) applying and matching for urology programs slightly decreased from 15 (47 percent) in 2017 to 12 (43 percent) in 2018.
• A total of 8 (24 percent) international medical students and graduates were matched in 2018, three less than in 2017.

The AUA uses a computerized mathematical algorithm to match applicants with programs using the preferences expressed on their ranked lists.

Statistics on the 2018 Match and past Match results can be found by visiting: http://www.auanet.org/education/auauniversity/residents/residency/urology-and-specialty-matches

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association (AUA) is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 21,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

About the Society of Academic Urologists: Formed in 2016 when the Society of University Urologists and the Society of Urology Chairpersons and Program Directors merged, the Society of Academic Urologists (SAU), provides academic urologists with a forum to discuss, review and work toward resolving critical issues in all aspects of academic urology. Additionally, SAU maximizes benefits for educational urology programs, streamlines communications with the AUA, RRC, ABU, and other societies, as well as gives academic urology a voice in the AUA Match program.

Contact:  Christine Frey, AUA
443-909-0839, cfrey@AUAnet.org

SOURCE American Urological Association