A few days ago, I dedicated my column to the MATCH system in America. This system matches doctors who just finished medical school with their residencies. You can read that here.
I learned all about this system several years ago watching TikTok videos of student doctors going through the process in hopes of 'matching' to their preferred specialty in their preferred state. They would apply to these programs and then go through an extensive interview process hoping to earn a coveted spot.
For some of these young doctors, it meant finally going back home after 8 years of college out of state. They crossed their fingers and prayed a program near their home would accept them. Not only that, they have to hope they will get the specialty (ortho, urology, pediatrics, psychiatry, etc). It's grueling to stay the least.
More and more people are learning about this process because of social media and it is raising concerns about how these residencies are meted out.
Some American students go unmatched. There is no dispute. Some claim those students go unmatched because of something they did wrong while others say the system is a disaster and American students should not have to complete against International students for these positions.
I'm really trying my best to understand all sides so here are the facts:
1. There are way more openings than there are American Medical students graduating from medical school. There will always be additional openings after all Americans are placed.
2. The issue is specific specialties. Some specialties are more competitive than others. For example, dermatology and plastic surgery are very competitive. There are absolutely international students who get those coveted spots OVER an American who wanted the spot. That's the rub.
I’m not sure why intelligent people are being obtuse. Americans aren’t opposed to foreign students studying in the United States. Americans just want to be sure that every American graduate has the opportunity to choose their preferred specialty before it’s offered to a foreign… https://t.co/1ffiuY0mce
— Just Mindy 🐊 (@just_mindy) March 25, 2026
First of all, saying things like 'this conversation is racist' is ridiculous. Desiring American students to be prioritized over international students is not racist. Mainly because American students come in all races. Duh.
Secondly, the discussion about how to reform the system doesn't mean someone doesn't want international students to study in America. We have a Doctor shortage. Of course, we should want international students to study and practice here. We should also want American students to have first dibs. Medical schools and residencies (and teaching hospitals) are subsidized by American taxpayers. It's really ok for American taxpayers to have a say in how their money is spent and on who.
For example, if every American student has had the opportunity to seek in ortho residency, then open it up to foreign students. People are angry that American students aren’t getting those specialties and instead being told they can take internal medicine or family medicine when…
— Just Mindy 🐊 (@just_mindy) March 25, 2026
an easy solution would be to have a match window only open to American students first and then once that process is through, have a second match period for foreign students.
— Just Mindy 🐊 (@just_mindy) March 25, 2026
An easy solution is to require every program to publish how many spots they have available in each specialty before the Match period. Then, have a match period for only American students. After all American students are matched in their specialty, THEN there can be a second round of MATCH for foreign students.
Many American people don’t think American students should have to compete against the global society for American taxpayer dollar subsidized residencies. That’s the point. https://t.co/DJpYB6GhwF
— Just Mindy 🐊 (@just_mindy) March 25, 2026
Sorry, but just because the student from another country has tons of research projects and has been published in papers and had 19 internships doesn’t mean they’ll make a better doctor to Americans than a very bright American medical student who didn’t do all of that extra stuff…
— Just Mindy 🐊 (@just_mindy) March 25, 2026
yes. I don’t think American students should have to compete globally for American taxpayer subsidized positions. I also don’t think an American student making an 80% will be a worse doctor than a foreign student making 99%. We are talking about degrees of brilliance that are… https://t.co/3NgfVvEKSG
— Just Mindy 🐊 (@just_mindy) March 25, 2026
This is my final point. We have to assume anyone who graduates from Medical School is a brilliant person. Once they start taking the standardized tests, we are just dealing with levels of brilliance and honestly test taking skills. Just because one doctor gets a 99 and another an 80, doesn't mean they are necessarily the better Doctor. Being a good Doctor is very nuanced. They are both highly capable people, but one is an American citizen. They should have the priority. These are young people likely in tons of debt and they need jobs. Offering those jobs to outsiders before giving an American a shot is self-sabotaging behavior. America needs to love its young people more.
