Internal medicine is the top choice for IMGs
Let us try to understand why the Internal medicine residency in the USA is so attractive for many IMGs. The statistics are the key.
Latest Match offered 8697 categorical positions. Around 4200 US MDs and 1900 US DOs applied to categorical positions.
So, just around 6100 positions potentially can be filled by US MDs and DOs.
As result, at least 2700 positions must be filled by IMGs to make the U.S. healthcare system functioning properly.
Additionally, Internal medicine is not the main target for many US MDs and DOs.
Finally, only around 5100 positions were filled by US graduates with around 3700 positions left for IMGs.
Such a large number of positions offered for IMGs makes Internal medicine one of the best choices for international medical graduates.
More than 5000 IMGs apply for Internal medicine residency each year and around 4500 have interviews and participate in the Match.
IM is twice more popular among non-US IMGs.
The match rate among interviewed applicants is 56% for US IMGs and 59% for non-US IMGs.
The probability of the match for interviewed applicants starts from 20% (30% US IMGs) for candidates with ~200 Step 1 and increases to 85% (95% US IMGs) for candidates with Step 1 > 250. Here are the best internal medicine residencies for international medical graduates by number of friendly positions:
