Trends in the supply of spinal cord injury medicine physicians in the united states: an evolving human resource shortfall.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

Given recent epidemiological data which indicate a rising incidence of traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury, we sought to analyze changes in the annual number of training positions, applicants, and unfilled training positions in United States spinal cord injury medicine (SCIM) training.

SETTING

Fellowship programs participating in the SCIM Match.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the National Resident Matching Program from 2016 to 2024. Annual trends were analyzed with linear regression.

RESULTS

The annual number of SCIM training programs (19-22, 15.8% increase, P < 0.001) and training positions (28-32, 14.3% increase, P < 0.001) increased over the study period. There was no significant change in the annual number of applicants (16-19, 18.8% increase, P = 0.878). The annual training position-to-applicant ratio ranged from 1.2-1.8 with no significant change over the study period (P = 0.555). The rate of unfilled training positions did not change over the study period (50.0-43.8%, P = 0.523). The annual match rate ranged between 87.0-100% with no clear trend over the study period (P = 0.423). There were no differences in the percentage of applicants matching at their first-choice (62.5-73.7%, P = 0.780) second-choice (12.5-10.5%, P = 0.333), and third-choice (12.5-0%, P = 0.966) fellowships over the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been an increase in the number of SCIM training programs and positions, but this has not been matched by an increased number of interested applicants. Policy efforts are needed to increase interest in SCIM and meet anticipated growth in clinical needs.