US Allopathic Schools Research Articles

Qualities and characteristics of applicants associated with successful matriculation to pediatric surgery fellowship training

BackgroundPediatric surgery (PS) is among the most competitive fellowship opportunities for general surgery residents. Prior investigations into factors associated with successful matriculation to PS have relied on surveys, which have inherent biases. Study designData were extracted from the Electronic Residency Application System for applicants from 2012 to 2017 and analyzed after stratification by matriculation status. ResultsData were gathered on a total of 444 applicants, of which 238 matriculated. The applicant pool was predominantly Caucasian (63.5%), largely graduated from US allopathic school (81%) and had a slight male predominance (54%), although the number of female applicants increased significantly over the study period. Attendance at a US allopathic medical school (OR=4.55, p <0.001), university-based general surgery training (OR=3.02, p <0.001) and training at institutions that offer PS fellowships (OR=3.36, p<0.001) were associated with matriculation. Matriculants had a higher quantity of peer reviewed publications (median 11 vs. 6, p <0.001) and published in high impact factor journals (p<0.001). A total of 65 applicants reapplied at least once, of whom 32% successfully matriculated. ConclusionsPS applicants' medical school, residency, and research data points correlated with successful matriculation. These data may help guide general surgery residents and medical students aspiring to become pediatric surgeons. Type of studyPrognosis study (retrospective) Level of evidenceLevel II

Medical School Factors Associated with Higher Rates of Recruitment into Psychiatry.

The medical school a student attends appears to be a factor in whether students eventually match into psychiatry. Knowledge of which factors are associated with medical schools with higher recruitment rates into psychiatry may assist in developing strategies to increase recruitment. Psychiatry leaders in medical student education in the 25 highest and lowest recruiting US allopathic schools were surveyed concerning various factors that could be important such as curriculum, educational leadership, and presence of anti-psychiatry stigma. The relationship between the survey results of high recruiting schools versus those of low recruiting schools was evaluated using Mann-Whitney U tests. Factors significantly associated (p < .05) with higher recruiting schools included better reputation of the psychiatry department and residents, perceived higher respect for psychiatry among non-psychiatry faculty, less perception that students dissuaded other students from pursuing psychiatry, and longer clerkship length. Educational culture and climate factors may have a significant impact on psychiatry recruitment rates. Clerkship length was associated with higher recruiting schools, but several previous studies with more complete samples have not shown this.