Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program Participation in the National Resident Matching Program Match: Trends and Implications for Recruitment.

OBJECTIVE Recruitment is one of the most important missions for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Caucus of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the American Association of Directors of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. A review of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match data is needed to inform current and future practices. METHODS The NRMP, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and Association of American Medical College databases were queried from 1996 to 2021. RESULTS The NRMP data show that the number of programs participating in the Match has increased from 87 in 1996 to 106 in 2021 and that the percentage of programs that fill their positions in the Match is increasing and has increased from 41% in 1996 to 67% in 2021. However, each year, a percentage of programs do not fill their positions offered in the Match. The numbers indicate a surplus of positions for the number of applicants that appears to be increasing, and there are currently 49 more positions than applicants. CONCLUSIONS Trends in the CAP Match are encouraging, and importantly, more programs and applicants are using the Match. One concerning trend is the surplus of positions while there is a great need for child psychiatrists. More research is needed on the incentives for programs and applicants to participate in the Match and how to increase interest in child and adolescent psychiatry.