The Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians (LAFP) would like to congratulate this year’s medical student graduates on an outstanding Match Day as 4,530 medical students and graduates matched to family medicine residency programs across the United States on March 17!

Match Day is a milestone for medical students as they prepare to graduate medical school and transition to their specializations in residency. The National Residency Match Program (NRMP), also known as The Match, aligns graduating and graduated medical students with residency training programs in specialties the students choose to pursue. This year’s graduating class will fill openings in the primary care workforce in higher numbers than 2022, and continue to grow the workforce and provide needed care to patients across the country in all settings.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) provides a full breakdown of the Match results each year as they pertain to family medicine. Below are a few highlights from the AAFP’s 2023 Match Results for Family Medicine and The National Resident Matching Program’s analysis:

• Family medicine offered 5,107 positions in the 2023 Match; 172 more than in 2022, and 13.6% of positions offered in all specialties.
• Family medicine represents 12% of all U.S. students or graduates who matched in 2023.
• 4,530 medical students and graduates matched to family medicine residency programs this year. Following is the breakdown of those 4,530 medical students:
  • 1,514 osteopathic medical school (DO) seniors
  • 1,499 U.S. allopathic medical school (MD) seniors
  • 793 U.S. international medical graduates (IMGs)
  • 562 foreign IMGs
  • 91 previous graduates of U.S. MD-granting schools
  • 70 previous graduates of DO-granting schools
  • 1 classified by the NRMP as “other”
• 773 family medicine categorical and combined residency programs offered positions in the 2023 NRMP® Match, 17 more programs than in 2022.

For additional data and insights from the 2023 Match, view the following resources:

• Family Medicine Welcomes Largest Class Ever – AAFP
• Historical Match Day: Family Medicine Welcomes Largest Class of New Residents – AAFP
• 2023 Match Results for Family Medicine – AAFP
• NRMP® Celebrates Match Day by Publishing the Results of a Record-Breaking 2023 Main Residency Match® – NRMP

The Future of Family Medicine

The AAFP and the LAFP have both developed plans to strengthen the family medicine workforce across the nation and here in Louisiana.

Per the AAFP,

“Strengthening and expanding residency training programs is a top priority for the AAFP and is critical to addressing the urgent need for more primary care and family physicians. The AAFP is focused on urging Congress to increase investment in Medicare Graduate Medical Education programs to meet workforce needs and train physicians who ultimately practice in physician shortage areas. The number of family medicine positions in the NRMP Match grew for the 14th year in a row. Family medicine offered more positions in the Match than any specialty—reflecting the urgent need to expand family medicine residencies which are distributed more broadly than any other specialty, training physicians in the communities that need them the most.”

As a part of the Strategic Plan, the LAFP is committed to advancing initiatives that empower LAFP members to thrive and be recognized by the value that family physicians bring to the healthcare infrastructure with focuses on the following goals:

• Increase the number of family medicine residency slots in Louisiana.
• Increase the retention rate of graduating family medicine residents who stay in Louisiana to practice.
• Align strategic priorities to support the LAFP Foundation’s efforts to bolster student member engagement.

Congratulations to Louisiana Medical Students in This Year’s Match!

The LAFP would like to congratulate all of our student members who matched last week! We’d like to highlight match stories like yours on our social media, website, and/or in future publications to share with members. If you are interested in being featured, please send the following to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Sunday, March 26:

• Name
• Medical School
• Residency matched to
• What you’re looking forward to in your family medicine career, reflections on your journey to Match Day, or any other thoughts you would like to share
• A photo of you.

This is a huge milestone in your career and the LAFP could not be more excited for you! The LAFP is here to support you in residency, as a new physician, and throughout your family medicine career. Make sure to stay in touch through residency – and check out all of the benefits for resident members on the LAFP website. Through Academy events, leadership opportunities, advocacy, and publications, the Academy helps family medicine residents access the resources they need to advance in their careers as family physicians.

AAFP’s 2024 Match Guidebook

For medical students planning to participate in the 2024 Match – the AAFP has updated its free comprehensive Match guidebook, Strolling Through the Match, for 2023-24:

“For decades, this guide to matching has helped thousands of applicants find their way into the right family medicine residency program. Strolling Through the Match is updated each year with the most current guidance and data. Start reading it from day one of medical school for advice on building your CV and consult it as you get ready to start researching residency programs.”

AAFP student members can download a digital version or order a free printed copy of the guidebook online.