About US
1. The Problem
Thousands of medical school graduates enter their residency programs annually through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). This system has dominated the graduate medical education job market since 1952, resulting in limited negotiating power for resident physicians. As a consequence, making meaningful changes within their programs becomes difficult. Residents often face several issues stemming from this inequitable system, including insufficient pay, toxic work environments, and a lack of opportunities for lateral mobility.
Inadequate Pay: Residents are forced to accept unfair contracts with suppressed wages because there is no competitive market pressure between programs.
Toxic Work Environments: Residents have no leverage to advocate for themselves in toxic programs and are forced to endure mistreatment or face retaliation.
No Lateral Mobility: Residents are contractually obligated to stay in their matched programs. Transfer between programs is rare, typically discouraged, and can risk a resident physician's career.
The rising rates of burnout, depression, and attrition among resident physicians have become a serious concern. This situation not only affects the well-being of the residents but also negatively impacts the patients they serve, as burnout has been linked to an increase in medical errors.
2. Our Solution & Mission
Resident physicians created the Coalition for Residency Reform (CRR) to transform this broken system for the good of us all. We aim to:
Advocate for Policy Change: Propose and lobby for reforms to the NRMP Match, and push for resident physician inclusion in many vital labor laws from which they are currently excluded.
Unify Resident Voices: Build a nationwide network where residents share experiences and resources and empower each other to advocate for healthy and fair work conditions.
Collaborate with Allies: Collaborate with program directors, hospital leadership, professional societies, and lawmakers to implement real and sustainable changes.
We are dedicated to ensuring that every resident physician receives fair compensation, humane working conditions, and the freedom to select the training environment that best supports their professional growth. We aim to create a better future for all resident physicians.
3. Join Us
Your voice is crucial, whether you're a current resident, program director, or concerned supporter. Your experiences, insights, and support drive our mission forward. Explore our resources or contact us to learn how you can contribute to reshaping graduate medical education into a system that truly values and protects its trainees.