How many students are going into geriatrics training this year? How does this compare with previous years?

In 2009, 86 residents (0.9%) in internal medicine or family medicine who graduated from US medical schools (USMDs) entered geriatric medicine fellowship programs. The number of USMDs entering geriatric medicine fellowship programs decreased from 112 in 2005 to 86 in 2009.

In 2009, 17 residents (2.3%) in general psychiatry who graduated from US medical schools (USMDs) entered a geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs. The number of USMDs entering geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs decreased from 30 in 2005 to 17 in 2009.

The majority of physicians who enter geriatric fellowship programs attended medical school outside of the United States. Of the 296 physicians who entered allopathic geriatric medicine fellowship programs in 2009, 196 were international medical school graduates (IMGs). The same trend held for geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs — with 31 of the 55 fellows being IMGs.