Evaluating the Importance of Sub-Internships on the 2022 Integrated Plastic Surgery Match During Continued COVID-19 Regulations

Abstract

ObjectiveFollowing the 2021 integrated plastic surgery match, we found a significant increase in home match rates and decrease in match rate for students without a home plastic surgery program with the elimination of visiting sub-internships and the initiation of virtual interviewing. With the return of visiting sub-internships in the 2022 match cycle, we hypothesize that these rates will approach values more consistent with historical controls.DesignProgram match data was obtained from posts to residency program Instagram pages and posts associated with the hashtag #PRSMatch2022. Data on visiting sub-internship matches was obtained from a publicly available Google Sheet with applicant contributors. The Chi square test was used to assess for differences.SettingMedical schools and plastic surgery programs were categorized into west, midwest, south, and northeast regions.ParticipantsMatched applicants to integrated plastic surgery residency programs.ResultsIn total, 192 of 194 (99%) of applicants matched to integrated plastic surgery residency positions were identified. The match rate for applicants without an affiliated plastic surgery program (31.3%) increased from 2021 (p = 0.03) and returned to a level consistent with historical controls (p = 0.38). Similarly, the home program match rate (15.1%) and match rate for applicants from Top 40 medical schools (34.2%) decreased from 2021, returning to pre-pandemic levels (p = 0.63, p = 0.12). Finally, regional match preferences remained generally consistent with historical controls, apart from a higher proportion of northeast applicants matching to programs in the northeast (72.5%, p = 0.04), and a lower proportion of west applicants matching to programs in the west (26.3%, p = 0.002).ConclusionsThe 2022 integrated plastic surgery match cycle saw a reversal of many of the changes to match rates seen in the 2021 cycle. These changes may be due to the reintroduction of visiting sub-internships following updates in COVID-19 policies.