A Focused Gap Year Program in Orthopaedic Research: An 18-Year Experience

Abstract

Introduction: Students seek gap years to enhance knowledge and improve chances of professional success. Although many institutions offer research opportunities, no studies have examined outcomes after these experiences. This study evaluates a dedicated year of orthopaedic research on a cohort's ultimate orthopaedic surgery match rate. Methods: From 2001 to 2018, 129 learners spent a year with our Department of Orthopedic Surgery at a major academic medical center. The students were either completing a gap year after college, during or after medical school, or after an unsuccessful match. Participants were asked to respond to a survey, which included demographics, educational information, and metrics related to the program. For the subcohort of students who ranked orthopaedic surgery, the match rate was compared with the mean for the US orthopaedic surgery match rates from 2006 to 2018 using a chi-square analysis. In addition, a Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the number of publications before and after the year. Results: One hundred three students (80%) returned completed questionnaires. Of all learners who applied to and ranked orthopaedic surgery, 91% matched into an orthopaedic surgery residency program. These results compared favorably with the US orthopaedic match from 2006 to 2018 (67.9%; P < 0.001), despite a 4-point lower United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 score for the research cohort. Finally, the research cohort had a greater percentage of women (23%) and minorities (40%) than the proportion of woman and minority practicing orthopaedic surgeons. Conclusion: Students who completed a gap year in research matched into orthopaedics at a higher rate than the national average, despite a lower Step score. Mentors may also target traditionally underrepresented groups to help increase the pool of diverse applicants.

Do Medical Students Who Participate in a Research Gap Year Produce More Research During Residency?

“…Sidiqi et al 18 noted in a 2016 survey of applicants for Radiology-Oncology, another competitive subspecialty, 68% of students stated that the primary purpose of their research gap year was to obtain more publications. The suggestion that students who participated in a research year do so to improve their application parallels the findings of Egol et al 11 who found that gap-year students have slightly lower USMLE step 1 scores (236 versus 240) and USMLE step 2 scores (243 versus 247). The belief in the importance of a research year, however, did not entirely align with those of the 72 program directors surveyed with only 3 (4.2%) agreeing that a research year was an important factor for residency selection.…”

“… 1 , 2 This has led to an increase in the number of medical students participating in nondegree research years; however, the value of these research years and their effect on research productivity during residency remained unknown. 2 , 11 Our study found that residents who had completed a research year during medical school produced more peer-reviewed journal publications during residency than their peers who had not. However, this may be due to a variety of factors, including greater familiarity and experience with research gained during the year, self-selection bias with residents who were more interested in research electing to partake in a research year, and/or established relationships with research mentors if they conducted their research year at their ultimate residency institution.…”

Incidence of Research Gap Years in Orthopaedic Residency Applicants: The New Standard?

“…To date, the sole orthopaedic study investigating how RGY might affect match success was a review of a single, large academic institution's 18-year experience with offering RGY opportunities. Egol et al 2 noted a higher match rate in these students compared with NRMP published data. The authors surveyed 129 students who spent a full-year within the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at their center after college graduation, during or after medical school, or after an unsuccessful first match attempt into orthopaedics.…”

“…The number of applicants applying to orthopaedic surgery residency programs continues to increase annually. 1 - 3 Several applicant characteristics have been correlated with greater match success, including higher US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) step 1 scores, 4 - 6 admission into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor society, 5 , 6 and having a greater mean number of applicant self-reported research activities in matched applicants (4.6 vs 3.0 from applicant data 2007 to 2014). 5 USMLE Step 1 will become pass/fail in 2022, leading to speculation on what applicant factors will increase in importance as a result.…”

“…The lone orthopaedic study investigating this topic to date was a review of a single academic institution's 18-year experience with offering RGY opportunities, noting a higher match rate in these students despite a four-point lower average step 1 score than publicly published national data. 2 …”