I'd heard early in the week that the initial matching process left 18 graduates of of the University of Arkansas College of Medicine without residencies. A second step of the process reduced those with no place to go to seven, same as last year. They'll have to figure out something else to do for a year and try again if they hope to practice medicine.

Here's some relevant information from the Association of American Medical Colleges:

. AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., issued a statement on this years Match results, expressing concern about the shortage of residency positions. Noting that several hundred U.S. seniors appear not to have matched this year, he said As a result, with a serious physician shortage looming closer, we remain concerned that the 17-year cap on federal support of new doctor training will impede the necessary growth in residency positions that must occur to ensure that our growing and aging population will receive the care it needs.

The shortage of residencies has relevance even closer to home. Arkansas State University is in process of establishing an osteopathic medical schooland a group in Fort Smith is also seeking to establish an osteopathic medical school. They'll need residencies, too. ASU hopes to turn out about 120 doctors a year.

Read more:

Residencies insufficient for current medical school graduates