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Top 10 Physician Specialties Being Recruited

This Top 10 list was developed by evaluating the nation's largest Internet job boards specializing in physician opportunities. Based on this research, the Top 10 specialties being recruited and their available number of residents in the class of 2010 are:

1. Family Practice*
   There are 81,252 Family Physicians in the U.S. who are office-based or hospital staff. With the exception of a small number who will opt for fellowship training, 2,876 Family Practice residents will be available in July 2010.
   

2. Internal Medicine*
   There are 86,973 Internists in the U.S. who are office-based or hospital staff. While 6,081 Internal Medicine residents will complete residency in 2010, the American Board of Internal Medicine reports 55% will enter fellowship training. The balance will take Hospitalist, traditional or outpatient Primary Care positions.
   

3. Hospital Medicine
   According to the Society of Hospital Medicine, there are 30,000 Hospitalists in the United States. Today's Hospitalist reported in 2008 that 77% of Hospitalists trained in general Internal Medicine, 9.3% trained in Pediatrics, 7.2% trained in Family Practice, and 2.1% trained in Pulmonary/Critical Care.
   

4. Cardiology
   Combining Non-Invasive, Invasive, Interventional, and Electrophysiology brought Cardiology to the fourth most recruited specialty today. There are a total of 20,999 Cardiologists in office-based or hospital practice in the U.S. A total of 876 fellows will be available in July 2010.
   

5. Emergency Medicine
   There are 27,967 Emergency Medicine physicians in the U.S. and 1,414 residents will be available in July 2010.
   

6. Orthopedic Surgery
   The number of Orthopedic Surgeons in office-based or hospital practice is 18,199. While 662 will complete residency in July 2010, nearly 90% will enter fellowship training.
   

7. Obstetrics and Gynecology
   A total of 33,630 OB/GYNs are in office-based or hospital practice and 1,128 residents will complete training in July 2010. A small percentage of residents will enter fellowship training.
   

8. Pediatrics
   There are 47,558 general Pediatricians in the U.S. who are in office-based or hospital practice. In July 2010, a total of 2,516 will complete residency. Approximately one-third of these residents will begin fellowship training.

9. Psychiatry
   A total of 30,603 Psychiatrists are in office-based or hospital practice in the U.S. A total of 998 residents will complete training in July 2010.
   

10. General Surgery
    The U.S. has a total of 21,617 General Surgeons in office-based or hospital practice. In July 2010, 1,253 residents will complete residency and an estimated 26% will begin fellowship training.

* For recommendations on how to compete for primary care physicians, click here.