Impact of graduation year on pharmacy residency matching rates

Purpose: The demand of post-graduate residency programs has grown dramatically in the last few years, while the growth of such programs is less dramatic.  Program directors evaluate various factors when matching a candidate. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of graduation year on pharmacy PGY1 and PGY2 residencies obtainment. 

Methods: National match service data from 2007 to 2012 was evaluated based on graduation year for both PGY1 and PGY2. Assessments were made independently by at least 2 authors. Match participants were compared to those that did not match on the basis of graduation year (match year vs. previous years).  Fisher’s exact and Chi-square tests were used to assess differences for each of the 6 years and overall, as appropriate. P values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. 

Results: PGY1 match rates ranged from 61.2% to 71.1% between 2007 and 2012, while PGY2 rates ranged from 65.5% to 80.2% over the same time period.  Applicants consistently match if they participated during their last professional year of pharmacy school (range 66.3% to 72.5% vs. 37.5% to 56%; p=0.007 to p<0.0001).  PGY2 results were less dramatic with rates of 68.4% to 77% vs. 43.9% to 85%; p=0.0005 to 1.00. 

Conclusion: The rates of matching increase significantly for PGY1 applicants applying the year of graduation.  It seems current students are more desirable to programs than applicants who may have been out of school a year or more.  However, for a PGY2 residency, the year of graduation has less of an impact indicating that the desire to match a candidate that has been in training continuously since graduation once the candidate has had residency training in a PGY1 program.