Thoughts on 2021–2022 visiting rotation recommendations from current and recent applicants in surgery

Singh, Nikhi P.; Fang, H.; Lopez, Raymond; DeAtkine, Andrew B; Burns, Zachary R.; Boyd, Carter J.

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.03.047

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic thrust instability and uncertainty into the traditional residency application structure. 34,35 Critical elements of prior residency application process including audition rotations and in-person interviews were suddenly taken away given social distancing protocols and safety priorities. [36][37][38] In response to uncertainty, some propose that humans are biased toward actions that either enable them to mitigate the effects of uncertainty or gain additional control over the ambiguity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapidly Increasing Number and Cost of Residency Applications in Surgery

Singh

Boyd

2023

The American Surgeon™

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Background Surgical specialties represent the most competitive residency positions to obtain, and applicants for these spots may apply to increasingly more programs in an attempt to match. We describe trends in residency applications across all surgical specialties from 2017 to 2021 application cycles. Materials and Methods This review of the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 surgical residency application cycles used the American Association of Medical Colleges’ Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) databases. Data from a total of 72,171 applicants to United States surgical residencies during the study’s time period were included. The 2021 ERAS fee schedule was used to calculate the cost of applications. Results The number of applicants across the study interval remains unchanged. Trends suggest more women and underrepresented minorities in medicine are applying to surgical residencies today compared to 5 years ago. The mean number of applications per applicant increased 32.0% from 39.3 in 2017 to 51.8 in 2021, resulting in an increased application fee cost of $329 per applicant. Mean total cost for application fees alone in 2021 were $1211 per applicant. In 2021, the cost of applying to surgical residency for all applicants was over $26 million, a nearly $8 million increase from 2017. Conclusions There has been an increase in the number of applications per applicant in the past 5 residency application cycles. Increased applications create barriers and burdens for applicants, and residency program personnel. These rapid increases are unsustainable and require intervention, although a viable solution has yet to be elucidated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapidly Increasing Number and Cost of Residency Applications in Surgery

Singh

Boyd

2023

The American Surgeon™

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“…[17][18][19]33 The COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a total disruption of the traditional application process, likely encouraged applicants to apply more broadly than before in attempt to increase exposure with the absence of in-person visiting rotations and interviews. [34][35][36][37] These various collective forces have created a current state of applying to integrated plastic surgery that is unstable. Regulation of the application process may be required either through implementation of secondary applications or restriction of the number of applications each applicant can submit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Modern Integrated Plastic Surgery Applicant Pays 150% More Than Their Counterparts Four Years Ago

Singh,

Kovac,

Boyd

et al. 2023

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open

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Background: Integrated plastic surgery residency positions are among the most difficult to obtain. We examine trends in the number of applicants, applications per applicant, and cost over the past five match cycles. Methods: In total, 2166 applicants to integrated plastic surgery programs were included. The American Association of Medical Colleges and Electronic Residency Application Service databases were examined to determine applicant trends for the years 2017 to 2021. Results: In 2017, there were 564 applicants for integrated plastic surgery residency positions, and in 2021, there were 416 (26% decrease). Across this same time period, the number of applications per applicant nearly doubled (97%) from 30 in 2017 to 59 in 2021, resulting in a 45% increase in the total number of applications. The largest increase in applications per applicant was seen between 2018 and 2019, a 70% increase. From 2017 to 2021, a 10% increase in the number of female applicants and a 43% decrease in the number of male applicants was observed. Cost of applications per applicant increased by 146%, from $514 in 2017 to $1265 in 2021. Total application costs in 2021 were $526,323, an 81% increase from 2017. The future value of these expenditures equals an economic burden of $801,855, assuming a 10-year term student loan at a conservative 4.3% interest rate. Conclusions: Despite substantial decreases in the number of applicants, the number of applications and resulting cost of applications have increased by large margins since 2017. This is representative of the increasingly competitive plastic surgery application process.

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“… 5 , 6 Students reported significantly higher levels of stress surrounding the virus and fear of transmission and these changes in the academic environment are likely to have compounded that stress. 7 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%