About US
1. The Problem
Thousands of medical school graduates begin their residency every year through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) match. This system has had a near-monopoly on the graduate medical education job market since 1952. As a result, resident physicians lack negotiating power, making initiating meaningful changes in their programs difficult. Consequently, residents face several consequences of this unfair system, including inadequate pay, toxic work environments, and no lateral mobility.
Inadequate Pay: Residents are forced to accept unfair contracts with suppressed wages due to 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.
This has led to alarmingly high rates of burnout, depression, and attrition among resident physicians. Not only does this harm resident physicians' well-being, but it also has a detrimental effect on the patients they serve, as medical errors become more common in physicians with burnout.
2. Our Solution & Mission
The Coalition for Residency Reform (CRR) was created by resident physicians 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, duty-hour regulations, stipend structures, and residency accreditation standards.
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 a concerned supporter. Your experiences, insights, and support are what 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.