The Home Program Advantage in the Otolaryngology Residency Match

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of home residency programs on outcomes in the otolaryngology residency match DESIGN: A retrospective online survey study during the 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 match cycles was conducted. All available otolaryngology residency positions listed by the National Resident Matching Program were compared with publicly available spreadsheets containing the following information: matriculated applicant name, medical school, whether the final match institution was the matriculated applicant's home program (HP), whether the matriculated applicant had completed an away rotation at their final matched institution (designated away institution, AI), or neither (designated Other Institution, OI). Nonclinical survey study using publicly available spreadsheets containing The Match data from 2015 to 2021 located online at Otomatch.com. Newly matched United States otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residents completing the Otomatch.com survey RESULTS: A total of 1771 matched OHNS applicants were identified. Fifty-one percent of students were affiliated with their matched institution, with 25% of students matching at HPs, and 26% matching at AIs. Students with home programs had an increased likelihood of remaining in the same geographic region compared to students without home programs (OR 1.742 95% CI [1.21-2.506], p = 0.003). Applicants with HPs matched at significantly larger residency programs (p < 0.001). This study found that a majority of residents match at an institution with which they were affiliated, either their home program or away institution. Applicants with HPs are more likely to remain in the same geographic region as their medical school, and to match into larger residency programs compared to applicants without HPs.