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Understanding accelerated 3-year MD program graduates: key considerations for residency directors

delete2026-06-29
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PRE
AI
A
Alicia Gonzalez-Flores, MD *
S
Sally A Santen, MD, PhD
L
Lisa Strano-Paul, MD
A
Annette C Reboli, MD
C
Catherine L Coe, MD
K
Karen A Friedman, MD, MS
J
Joan Cangiarella, MD
B
Betsy G Jones, EdD
P
Peter Nalin, MD, MBA
D
Debaroti Tina Mullick Borschel, MD
M
Matthew L Hunsaker, MD
J
Judith Brenner, MD
DOI:10.1093/acamed/wvag197delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
From 2014 to 2025, accelerated 3-year MD programs (A3YP) have expanded significantly, such that 20% of allopathic medical schools offer a program to earn the MD degree in three years. While maintaining rigorous and comparable educational standards as traditional 4-year programs, A3YPs aim to address physician workforce shortages, reduce student debt, and provide individualized education pathways into specific specialties. Among the thirty-two A3YPs in existence, twenty-two medical schools have graduated 1141 students to date, with numbers increasing annually. Nineteen programs are linked to a residency program, though six of these programs consistently match students outside their linked program. As more medical schools implement A3YPs and an increasing number of graduates enter the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP), residency program directors will encounter A3YP applicants more frequently. The proliferation of A3YPs presents both challenges and opportunities for residency program directors in evaluating applicants. Despite the differences in their applications, including limited extracurricular activities and time for visiting rotations, these applicants have been found to perform similarly in standardized testing and residency milestones, and have similar well-being and satisfaction as traditional students. This perspective outlines key considerations for PDs and provides a foundation for contextually evaluating the increasing numbers of these applicants graduating from A3YPs.

Journal

Academic Medicine cover
Academic Medicine
IF:
5.2
Papers:
1.2W
Citations:
2.4W

Organization

M
medical college of sconsin–green bay
Scholars:
2
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
C
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Scholars:
60
Papers: 37
Citations: 0
U
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Scholars:
513
Papers: 228
Citations: 0
U
University of Minnesota Medical School
Scholars:
92
Papers: 45
Citations: 1
N
NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine
Scholars:
56
Papers: 19
Citations: 0
T
texas tech university health sciences center
Scholars:
220
Papers: 126
Citations: 0
N
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Scholars:
1.2K
Papers: 510
Citations: 1
U
university of tennessee health science center
Scholars:
529
Papers: 296
Citations: 0
U
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Scholars:
1.6W
Papers: 1.0W
Citations: 20
U
University of California Davis School of Medicine
Scholars:
78
Papers: 45
Citations: 0
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