Pediatrics filled more than 95% of positions offered in the Main Residency Match, the largest number of future pediatricians in Match Day’s history. The number of filled positions is expected to increase as unmatched residents are placed into programs during the supplemental match program.
In all, 3,043 residents matched to categorical and primary pediatrics compared to 2,887 on Match Day last year.
“More medical students are choosing pediatrics than at any other time in history,” said AAP President Susan J. Kressly, M.D., FAAP. “Congratulations to these students who will experience the joy of pediatrics and embark on a rewarding career caring for children. Being a pediatrician is an honor. Welcome to our family.”
The number of medical students starting pediatric residency has increased 20% over 15 years — from 3,220 residents in 2009 to 3,862 residents in 2023, according to the National Resident Matching Program. These figures include residents in categorical pediatrics, medicine-pediatrics and other combined pathways.
Pediatrics fill rates
Pediatrics offered 3,193 categorical and primary positions in the 2025 Match, an increase of 54 over the 2024 Match.
Last year, the pediatrics fill rate on Match Day was 92%. After the conclusion of the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), the fill rate reached 99.4%.
Categorical pediatrics — programs that provide the full training for general pediatric specialty board certification — filled 95.3% of positions offered in the 2025 Match. Pediatrics-primary, which provides a training emphasis on primary care, filled 94.8%.
Internal medicine-pediatrics filled 99.2% of positions after filling 100% last year.
Subspecialist categories with 100% fill rates include pediatrics/psych/child psych (29 positions), pediatrics-emergency medicine (8), pediatrics-anesthesiology (7) and pediatrics-physical medicine and rehabilitation (5).
Pediatrics-medical genetics filled 27 of 28 positions, and pediatrics-preliminary filled 23 of 25.
Issues affecting pediatricians
While pediatrics had a strong showing this year, Dr. Kressly said issues that make it challenging for pediatricians persist. She pointed to a payment structure that undervalues the work of pediatricians and potential cuts to Medicaid.
“We need to look at the finance structure at this critical time to ensure that children have access to quality health care,” she said. “Reforms are needed so pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists are able to continue to provide exceptional care for children.”
The AAP also is urging lawmakers to reject potential funding cuts to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covered 49% of U.S. children (37 million) as of October 2024, according to an AAP analysis.
"The increase in the number of graduates matching into pediatrics is encouraging but still is below the number of new pediatricians needed to provide access to care for all of the nation’s children," said Jesse Hackell, M.D., FAAP, chair of the AAP Committee on Pediatric Workforce. “It is incumbent on all of us in pediatrics to showcase the reasons why we find it such an attractive and compelling career choice and communicate that to pre-medical and medical students early in their training.”
Historic Match
This year’s Main Residency Match was the largest in its 73-year history. It included 47,208 active applicants (5.3% increase from last year) and 43,237 certified positions (4.2% increase) in 6,626 residency training programs (increase of 231 programs).
Of the training positions offered, 94.3% (40,764) were filled when the matching algorithm was processed.
Primary care results
Primary care specialties offered 20,300 categorical positions, an increase of 877 positions over last year and a new high. The overall fill rate was 93.5%.
Internal medicine added 679 positions and filled 96.8%. Family medicine added 144 positions. Its fill rate was 85%, down from 87.8% last year.
