To analyze longitudinal trends in neurology as a preferred specialty among National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) residency applicants from 2007 to 2024.

The United States currently faces a shortage of neurologists, compounded by disparities in geographic access. This underscores the importance in examining trends in residency applicants’ interest in neurology as a preferred specialty.

Data were obtained, with permission, from the NRMP Charting Outcomes in the Match reports for the years 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024. Residency applicants were classified into 2 groups: seniors of US allopathic medical schools (“US MD seniors”) and all other NRMP applicants who were not seniors of US allopathic medical schools (“non-US MD seniors”). For each group, the total number and percentage of applicants who selected neurology as their preferred specialty were analyzed using linear regression in R version 4.5.0.

Linear regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the number of applicants selecting neurology as a preferred specialty from 2007 to 2024 (β₁ = 44.0, p = 0.00002). Stratified analyses revealed similar upward trends among both US MD seniors (β₁ = 18.2, p = 0.00002) and non-US MD seniors (β₁ = 25.9, p = 0.00003). The percentage of applicants choosing neurology as a preferred specialty also rose significantly overall (β₁ = 0.04, p = 0.001), as well as among both US MD seniors (β₁ = 0.06, p = 0.001) and non-US MD seniors (β₁ = 0.03, p = 0.02).

Interest in neurology as a preferred specialty has increased significantly for both US MD seniors and non-US MD seniors from 2007 to 2024. This trend offers opportunities to advocate for neurology among medical students, such as enhanced exposure to neurology subspecialties during clinical education.