Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Match After an Early-Exposure Research Program for Medical Students

The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of students matching in orthopaedic surgery after a structured, early-exposure mentored research program and what factors were associated with those students compared with participants who matched in other specialties.

Program data were reviewed from 2007 to 2015. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate student and research factors associated with orthopaedic surgery match.

Of 174 students, 117 (67%) matched into surgical residency programs, with 49% (n = 85) matching into orthopaedic surgery. The percentage of women matching into orthopaedic surgery (37%) was less than that of men (53%), which, however, increased over the study period. Students who matched in orthopaedic surgery had greater numbers of publications (3.55 [range 0 to 17] average publications) compared with students who matched in other specialties (1.98 (range 0 to 11) average publications). The average number of publications per student increased from 0.79 (±1.44, range 0 to 10, 40%) preprogram to 1.95 (±2.28, range 0 to 11, 71%) postprogram. Measured factors associated with orthopaedic surgery match were publications with program mentor, postprogram first authorship, and total publications.

Approximately half of the participants matched into orthopaedic surgery. Analysis showed that research productivity increased after program participation and was statistically associated with increased likelihood of orthopaedic surgery match.