PracticeMatch has released a comprehensive white paper examining physician career patterns following residency completion, offering crucial insights for healthcare organizations competing for limited medical talent. The report comes after a record-breaking 2025 Match Day where over 44,000 applicants competed for nearly 41,000 residency slots, yet critical shortages persist in primary care, OB-GYN, psychiatry, and rural healthcare settings.
The study, drawing on exclusive first-party verified data from thousands of residents and fellows, reveals that location loyalty significantly influences physician recruitment outcomes. Nearly 60% of physicians accept their first post-training position in the same state as their residency program, emphasizing the importance of early engagement strategies during training years. This finding underscores the strategic advantage for healthcare organizations that establish relationships with physicians during their residency programs rather than waiting until completion.
Specialty-specific mobility patterns emerged as another critical finding, with surgeons relocating significantly farther distances (averaging over 150 miles) compared to primary care physicians who typically move only about 20 miles from their training locations. Additionally, only 12% of physicians begin their first job in the same ZIP code as their residency program, indicating that while state loyalty exists, local retention remains challenging for most healthcare organizations.
The white paper also addresses mounting workforce pressures, including physician burnout that costs the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $4.6 billion annually and the impending retirement of nearly one-third of the current physician workforce. These factors compound existing recruitment challenges, particularly in underserved specialties and geographic areas. PracticeMatch's proprietary databases capture essential indicators beyond traditional resumes, including geographic preferences, practice type goals, and family considerations that help recruiters predict candidate mobility and readiness.
The research further explores how policy changes, such as new state laws allowing certain internationally trained physicians to practice without repeating U.S. residency requirements, will shape the future recruitment landscape. With increasing immigration and credentialing complexities, up-to-date verified data becomes an indispensable tool for effective physician recruitment. The comprehensive findings provide healthcare organizations with evidence-based strategies to improve recruitment outcomes and address persistent workforce shortages across multiple medical specialties.
