Factors Influencing Match Success in Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Programs From 2019 to 2023

Integrated vascular surgery residency (IVSR) programs have grown increasingly competitive. However, the factors influencing successful matching remain unclear. This study evaluates the impact of medical school and applicant characteristics on IVSR match outcomes.

A list of ACGME-accredited IVSRs was obtained from the Society for Vascular Surgery, and resident data from the 2019-2023 match cycles were collected from publicly available sources. Applicant characteristics consisted of additional graduate degrees, Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) status, and research productivity. Medical school characteristics consisted of ranking, research funding, vascular surgery interest group (VSIG) presence, and vascular surgery faculty size. Logistic regression models were employed to identify predictors of matching into top 10, top 25, and top 50 IVSR programs.

The final analysis included 374 residents from 120 unique U.S. medical schools across 69 IVSR programs. Most graduated from institutions with a VSIG (70.9%), and 16.0% were members of AOA. Significant predictors (p < 0.05) of matching into a top 50 or top 25 program include VSIG presence (Top 50 odds ratio [OR] = 1.80; Top 25 OR = 2.24), having more than 5 PubMed articles (Top 50 OR = 2.62; Top 25 OR = 2.41). Graduation from a Tier 1 medical school (OR = 5.90) or Tier 2 (OR = 2.82) significantly influenced matching into a top 50 program. Having more than 5 PubMed articles was the only significant predictor for matching into a top 10 program (OR = 3.18, 95% CI = 1.25-8.16).

Applicant and medical school characteristics significantly influence IVSR match outcomes, particularly institutional ranking, VSIG presence, and research productivity. These findings highlight the role of early vascular surgery exposure and institutional reputation in residency placement. Encouraging VSIG development and fostering mentorship opportunities may enhance applicant competitiveness.