Evaluating the Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Match During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic

Whisonant, Cees; Shahriari, Shawhin; Harrison, Joshua; Ederle, Amanda; Marley, Samantha; Dowdy-Sue, Hannah; Borah, Gregory

doi:10.7759/cureus.16988

Cited by 16 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…Similarly, there was an 8.4% increase in home program matches observed when looking at integrated plastic surgery residency, another competitive surgical subspecialty. 8 These trends are consistent with what many have hypothesized with the changes that occurred due to COVID-19.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Match

et al. 2022

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Introduction Matching into an orthopaedic surgery residency program presents a challenging accomplishment for applicants to achieve in any given year. Due to the profound changes to the application process caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic it was theorized that there would be a change in the number of graduates matching close to their home medical school region, state, and program. Methods Orthopaedic surgery residency program Web sites and social media accounts were accessed to elucidate current resident data, including graduates' medical school, and geographical location of their school. Chi-square analysis was performed to identify trends in current residents matching within their home program, state, and region associated with the 2021 orthopaedic match. These numbers were compared with previous year's successful applicants. Results In 2021, a significant 4.4% (p=0.02) increase in successful matches within applicants' home states occurred (33.4% vs. 37.8%) and home programs (p<0.001) when compared with previous years (21.2% vs. 27.4%). However, in 2021, there was no significant change in home region matching (p=0.56) with 60% of successful matches occurring in home regions. This was statistically consistent with what was observed in previous years (61.4%). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with restrictions in travel and interview options resulting in a significant increase in the number of orthopaedic applicants who matched into their home program, or at programs in their home state compared with previous years. Although no statistically significant regional change occurred during the 2021 match, it remains the leading predictor of where successful applicants will match. With many unknowns related to the upcoming match cycles it is important for applicants and programs to have a general idea of recent trends and outcomes to best focus their efforts, especially if diversity and minority inclusion are considered in highly competitive specialties like orthopaedic surgery.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Match

et al. 2022

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“…Two recent studies also identified an increase in applicants matching at their respective home programs [ 6 , 12 ]. Additionally, this was also similar to what was seen in the integrated plastic surgery match, another competitive surgical specialty, in 2021 where there was a 9% increase in HP matches [ 13 ]. Similar trends are also seen outside the surgical residency programs, with a 9.1% increase in HP matches seen in dermatology in 2021 [ 14 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

COVID-19 and the Otolaryngology Match: An Increase in Applicants Remaining Close to Home

Whisonant¹,

Shahriari²,

McDonald³

et al. 2022

Cureus

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Introduction: Otolaryngology residency remains one of the most competitive surgical subspecialties to apply for with a 63% match rate in 2021. This is a difficult and stressful process for applicants in any given year, and it was even further complicated by restrictions mandated by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protections. Analyzing geographical trends in successfully matched applicants provides prospective applicants and programs with helpful information about how previous trends were affected by the pandemic as we look toward future match cycles. Methods: The medical schools of 1,587 successfully matched applicants from 2017-2021 were identified and compared to the 116 otolaryngology residency programs. Successful applicants’ medical school state and region were then compared to the location of their matched residency program state and region. From this, we evaluated the number of applicants matching at the residency program affiliated with their medical school or at a residency program within the same state or region as their home medical school. Results: A significant increase in the percentage of applicants matching at their home program and within their home state (p < 0.001) occurred in 2021 when compared to previous years. Applicants matching within their home region was not found to increase significantly (p = 0.43) in 2021 compared to previously. The regions with the greatest increase in the percentage of applicants matching to their home programs were the Northeast and Midwest (12% increase), while the Midwest had the largest increase in percentage of applicants matching within their home state (15%). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the otolaryngology match in 2021 with applicants and programs alike choosing to stay closer to home with their residency match selections. Overall, regional location remains a major determinant of future residency location for otolaryngology applicants, and this did not change significantly during 2021, but applicants matched more frequently at their home medical school program. It is anticipated that the match process will be similar in 2022 given the ongoing pandemic, so the importance of home program and region will likely be emphasized again.

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“…Numerous studies evaluating 2021 match data showed a significant increase in applicants matching at their home institutions compared with previous years. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] The link between these changes and the COVID-19 pandemic has been described in detail. Among students interested in plastic surgery, COVID-19 not only affected the residency application process but also negatively impacted these students' confidence in their medical education.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match: An Update on Match Trends by Applicant Location

Kebede

Marxen

et al. 2022

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open

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Background: COVID-19 significantly impacted the residency match process. Away rotations and in-person interviews were canceled in 2021, resulting in a geographic shift in integrated plastic surgery match results. Although several of these limitations were lifted during the 2022 cycle, the resulting geographic outcomes have yet to be described. This study aims to determine whether the changes seen during the previous cycle persisted despite loosened restrictions. Methods: Integrated plastic surgery match results and applicants' home institutions from the 2022 match cycle were determined using publicly available data. Geographic data from this cycle were then compared with pre-COVID-19 match cycles (2016-2020) and the COVID-19-affected 2021 match cycle. Results: Eighty percent (n = 68) of US integrated plastic surgery programs were included in this study. In 2022, 18.42% of applicants matched at their home institution compared with 25.12% in 2021. There was no significant difference in home, state, or regional match rates between 2022 and the five cycles preceding the pandemic (2016)(2017)(2018)(2019)(2020). Combining these data to reflect the non-COVID-19-affected cycles (2016-2020 and 2022) and comparing to the COVID-19-affected cycle (2021), a significant difference in rates of home matches (P = 0.0395) was identified. Conclusions: A significant increase in home institution match rates was not noted during the 2022 cycle. This return to pre-COVID-19 rates is likely attributed to the loosening of restrictions and more opportunities for interaction between applicants and programs outside of their home institution.

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Evaluating the Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Match During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic

Cited by 16 publications

References 11 publications

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Match

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Match

COVID-19 and the Otolaryngology Match: An Increase in Applicants Remaining Close to Home

COVID-19 and the Integrated Plastic Surgery Match: An Update on Match Trends by Applicant Location

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