𝗜𝗠𝗚𝘀 𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡'𝗧 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗦 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀: Amid the noise and baseless accusations that IMGs are “stealing” residency spots, I’ve put together a comprehensive, data-driven breakdown that cuts through the misinformation. This article debunks these claims with facts, context, and real ground realities, and clearly explains how residency positions are actually distributed between U.S. graduates and IMGs. Because this conversation deserves evidence, not assumptions. Let’s kill this myth once and for all 👇 ❌ IMGs are NOT “stealing” residency spots: 📊 Match 2026 Reality: 🔹 Total U.S. MD DO applicants: 33,070 🔹Total residency positions: 44,344 ➡️ Surplus positions: 11,274 🚨 The Gap Nobody Talks About: Even if EVERY single U.S. graduate matched… There would STILL be 11,274 unfilled positions 📉 Workforce Crisis: Projected physician shortage: 86,000 by 2036 (American Medical Association) 🤔 The Real Question: Who fills those 11,274 positions? 💡 The Truth: Without IMGs: ❌ Positions go unfilled ❌ Hospitals, especially community and rural, struggle to function ❌ Patient care suffers 🩺 Bottom Line: IMGs don’t take spots They fill the gaps that keep the system running ANOTHER ASPECT: In core specialties like Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Neurology, virtually no U.S. MD or DO applicant who is willing to train in these fields remains unmatched after SOAP. These are not the arenas where U.S. graduates are being displaced. The unmatched issue arises when applicants, understandably, aim for ultra competitive specialties like Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Dermatology. In those fields, they are competing against other highly accomplished U.S. graduates and a very small group of IMGs who are not average by any standard, but truly exceptional. The IMGs who break into these specialties are rare, and their profiles speak for themselves, extremely high scores, dozens of publications, hundreds of citations, and often postdoctoral research fellowships, frequently at the very institutions where they eventually match. They have already worked alongside senior faculty, proven their competence, and demonstrated their work ethic over time. When programs rank them highly, it is not favoritism, it is informed judgment based on direct experience. To suggest that institutions like Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Columbia University would deliberately choose less competitive candidates over stronger ones simply because of citizenship is not just incorrect, it fundamentally misunderstands how merit based selection works in academic medicine. These institutions built their reputation on excellence, not compromise. And finally, why are IMGs coming to the United States in the first place? Because the U.S. has a large, widely distributed population, a worsening physician shortage, and a healthcare system that actively needs them. For decades, the U.S. projected itself as a land of opportunity, attracting talent from across the world. Now that highly qualified physicians are pursuing that opportunity through a legal, merit based system, some have a problem with it. At that point, the issue is no longer about residency positions or qualifications. It is about bias, not facts. #Match2026 #MedTwitter #MedEd

When you zoom out: ~40,000 residency spots ~28,000 U.S. grads That leaves ~12,000 seats with NO American doctors to fill them. So who exactly is being “replaced”?

Introducing our new MGB Pathology PGY-1s!! We’re so excited for you to join us and can’t wait to welcome you to the path family 🎉🔬🧫🤍

We couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce this stellar new class of 19 (yes, 19!) PGY1s joining the Mass General Brigham pathology family! 🥳 Welcome to the team — we can’t wait to have you on board and see you thrive! 🧬🔬💫

Join LAPF during #USCAP2025 in Boston for a variety of social and educational activities Unete a las actividades sociales y educativas que LAPF tiene durante la reunion anual de @TheUSCAP Para aplicar al galardon LAPF al mejor abstract, envianos un correo antes de 03/20 🏆📰

Announcing a free @ISGynP sponsored live virtual webinar on 01/09 by Dr. Mirkovic on "Mesonephric and Mesonephric-like Pathology". Register now at isgyp.ca #gynpath #pathtwitter #pathology

We are officially transitioning to our joint department account @mgbpathology. The MGH-specific page will still exist for reference, but please see our new page for updates and interactions! 🙂

We are officially transitioning to our joint department account @mgbpathology. The BWH-specific page will still exist for reference, but please see our new page for updates and interactions! 🙂

Announcing a free @ISGynP sponsored live virtual slide session on December 12, 2024 by Dr Bell on "A Practical Approach to a Arrange of Fallopian Tube Pathology". Register now @ isgyp.ca #gynpath #pathtwitter #pathology

Support the Prof. Naveena Singh Memorial Fund in honoring a commitment to global education! Help us finish the year strong—donate by Dec. 31. Scan the QR code below or visit isgyp.org/donate/ #GynaePath #Pathology

📌Hoy viernes 29 de noviembre, 8 pm (Arg/Uru, GMT-3) Ultima clase: Inmunohistoquímica "Presentación de casos". Dr. Mario Murguía Pérez (México) #cursovirtualLAPF ¡Los esperamos! @Allende_DS @Andres_Matoso @Andres_M_Acosta @CPHpath @MarcosLepeMD @DrMedeirosPath

Estamos en vivo con la última clase del programa del #cursovirtualLAPF, Patología Gastrointestinal con el Dr. Iván González. No se olviden de la clase "bonus" del viernes 29 de noviembre con el Dr. Mario Murguía Pérez @Allende_DS @Andres_M_Acosta

⚠️ATENCIÓN #cursovirtualLAPF ✅clase bonus: Inmunohistoquímica "Presentación de casos". Dr. Mario Murguía Pérez 🇲🇽 🗓️ viernes 29 de noviembre, 8 pm (Arg/Uru, GMT-3) @Allende_DS @Andres_M_Acosta

The Tear Downs aptly tore it down last night 🤘🎸 Dr. Hornick, featured on the keyboard, is our director of surgical pathology and immunohistochemistry at the Brigham, but more importantly he’s a rockstar @JLHornick

Adam S. Fisch, left, introduced speaker Alexander J. Neil.

Thank you to the Abstract Review Board and Abstract Assignment Committee at @TheUSCAP for the timely dispositions of abstracts for 2025. Every year is better and better!

It's all thanks to the 194 members of @TheUSCAP abstract review board, the education committee and the staff

Estamos en vivo con el Dr. Campo, tema de hoy: hematopatología #cursovirtualLAPF ¡No te lo pierdas! @Allende_DS @Andres_M_Acosta

📌No te pierdas hoy, miércoles 13 de noviembre, 8 pm Arg/Uru (GMT-3) #cursovirtualLAPF clase N°6: Hematopatología- Dr. Elías Campo. ¡Te esperamos! @Allende_DS @Andres_M_Acosta @Andres_Matoso @CPHpath @MarcosLepeMD @DrMedeirosPath

The Soft Tissue Symposium is underway! Dedicated to the memory of Christopher Fletcher Moderating with my dear friend Fiona Maclean Abbas Agaimy teaching us about mesenchymal tumors of the head and neck #IAP2024 @BWHPath