Alexander Morzycki1, Michael Bezuhly1,2, Jason G Williams1. 1. Division of Plastic Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. 2. Department of Surgery, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Plastic surgery (PS) is considered to be one of the most competitive specialties. As a result, some students are discouraged from applying, reducing the overall number of PS candidates. Still, much of what we know of the match is based in conjecture. OBJECTIVE: To examine the Canadian PS match data from 1997 to 2016. To our knowledge, this is the first long-term analysis of the Canadian PS residency match. METHOD: We examined the Canadian Residency Matching Service reports from 1997 to 2016, extracting key match statistics, including available positions, number of applicants, positions filled, positions unfilled, and gender-specific match results. To examine competitiveness, the ratio of total applicants per quota per year (CR) and the ratio of applicants who chose PS as their first-choice specialty per quota per year were calculated (FC-CR). The National Residency Matching Program data were used to assess the American integrated PS match over the past decade and served as a comparison. RESULTS: The CR of Canadian PS programs declined over the last 20 years (P < .001), indicating fewer applicants applied to the program per available position. Similarly, the FC-CR also declined over the last 20 years (P < .001). The number of females matching to their first-choice discipline of PS increased from 1997 (P < .001). There was no significant change in the number of males matching to their first-choice discipline of PS (P = .15). There was no significant change in the competitiveness (CR) of the American integrated PS match over the last decade (P = 0.087). CONCLUSION: Encouragingly, today PS has more training positions and more female residents; yet, the overall number of applicants has remained relatively static over the past 20 years. This analysis serves as a valuable reference for PS programs and should assist in developing strategies to encourage the best applicants to apply.
BACKGROUND: Plastic surgery (PS) is considered to be one of the most competitive specialties. As a result, some students are discouraged from applying, reducing the overall number of PS candidates. Still, much of what we know of the match is based in conjecture. OBJECTIVE: To examine the Canadian PS match data from 1997 to 2016. To our knowledge, this is the first long-term analysis of the Canadian PS residency match. METHOD: We examined the Canadian Residency Matching Service reports from 1997 to 2016, extracting key match statistics, including available positions, number of applicants, positions filled, positions unfilled, and gender-specific match results. To examine competitiveness, the ratio of total applicants per quota per year (CR) and the ratio of applicants who chose PS as their first-choice specialty per quota per year were calculated (FC-CR). The National Residency Matching Program data were used to assess the American integrated PS match over the past decade and served as a comparison. RESULTS: The CR of Canadian PS programs declined over the last 20 years (P < .001), indicating fewer applicants applied to the program per available position. Similarly, the FC-CR also declined over the last 20 years (P < .001). The number of females matching to their first-choice discipline of PS increased from 1997 (P < .001). There was no significant change in the number of males matching to their first-choice discipline of PS (P = .15). There was no significant change in the competitiveness (CR) of the American integrated PS match over the last decade (P = 0.087). CONCLUSION: Encouragingly, today PS has more training positions and more female residents; yet, the overall number of applicants has remained relatively static over the past 20 years. This analysis serves as a valuable reference for PS programs and should assist in developing strategies to encourage the best applicants to apply.
Entities:
Keywords:
competitiveness; plastic surgery; residency match
Authors: Adam D Glener; Michael Lebhar; J Andres Hernandez; Amanda R Sergesketter; Ronnie L Shammas; Roger W Cason; Sonali Biswas; Brett T Phillips Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open Date: 2021-04-20
Authors: Meera Reghunathan; Riley A Dean; Adam Hauch; Christopher M Reid; Amanda A Gosman; Samuel H Lance Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Date: 2022-03-21 Impact factor: 5.169