scholarly journals Analysis of the 1990–2007 neurosurgery residency match: does applicant gender affect neurosurgery match outcome?

2018 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan R. Durham ◽  
Katelyn Donaldson ◽  
M. Sean Grady ◽  
Deborah L. Benzil
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Application Process ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Successful Match ◽  
Usmle Step 1 ◽  
Usmle Step ◽  
Underrepresentation Of Women ◽  
Residency Application

OBJECTIVEWith nearly half of graduating US medical students being female, it is imperative to understand why females typically make up less than 20% of the neurosurgery applicant pool, a number that has changed very slowly over the past several decades. Organized neurosurgery has strongly indicated the desire to overcome the underrepresentation of women, and it is critical to explore whether females are at a disadvantage during the residency application process, one of the first steps in a neurosurgical career. To date, there are no published studies on specific applicant characteristics, including gender, that are associated with match outcome among neurosurgery resident applicants. The purpose of this study is to determine which characteristics of neurosurgery residency applicants, including gender, are associated with a successful match outcome.METHODSDe-identified neurosurgical resident applicant data obtained from the San Francisco Fellowship and Residency Matching Service for the years 1990–2007 were analyzed. Applicant characteristics including gender, medical school attended, year of application, United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1 score, Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) status, and match outcome were available for study.RESULTSOf the total 3426 applicants studied, 473 (13.8%) applicants were female and 2953 (86.2%) were male. Two thousand four hundred forty-eight (71.5%) applicants successfully matched. USMLE Step 1 score was the strongest predictor of match outcome with scores > 245 having an OR of 20.84 (95% CI 10.31–42.12) compared with those scoring < 215. The mean USMLE Step 1 score for applicants who successfully matched was 233.2 and was 210.8 for those applicants who did not match (p < 0.001). Medical school rank was also associated with match outcome (p < 0.001). AOA status was not significantly associated with match outcome. Female gender was associated with significantly lower odds of matching in both simple (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.48–0.72) and multivariate analyses (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.34–0.94 CI). USMLE Step 1 scores were significantly lower for females compared to males with a mean score of 230.1 for males and 221.5 for females (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in medical school ranking or AOA status when stratified by applicant gender.CONCLUSIONSThe limited historical applicant data from 1990–2007 suggests that USMLE Step 1 score is the best predictor of match outcome, although applicant gender may also play a role.

A comparison of student performance on discipline-specific versus integrated exams in a medical school course

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 370-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R. Thompson ◽  
Mark W. Braun ◽  
Valerie D. O'Loughlin
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Bloom's Taxonomy ◽  
Integrated Instruction ◽  
Bloom’S Taxonomy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Usmle Step 1 ◽  
Usmle Step ◽  
Exam Scores ◽  
The Impact

Curricular reform is a widespread trend among medical schools. Assessing the impact that pedagogical changes have on students is a vital step in review process. This study examined how a shift from discipline-focused instruction and assessment to integrated instruction and assessment affected student performance in a second-year medical school pathology course. We investigated this by comparing pathology exam scores between students exposed to traditional discipline-specific instruction and exams (DSE) versus integrated instruction and exams (IE). Exam content was controlled, and individual questions were evaluated using a modified version of Bloom's taxonomy. Additionally, we compared United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) step 1 scores between DSE and IE groups. Our findings indicate that DSE students performed better than IE students on complete pathology exams. However, when exam content was controlled, exam scores were equivalent between groups. We also discovered that the integrated exams were composed of a significantly greater proportion of questions classified on the higher levels of Bloom's taxonomy and that IE students performed better on these questions overall. USMLE step 1 exam scores were similar between groups. The finding of a significant difference in content complexity between discipline-specific and integrated exams adds to recent literature indicating that there are a number of potential biases related to curricular comparison studies that must be considered. Future investigation involving larger sample sizes and multiple disciplines should be performed to explore this matter further.

scholarly journals The Effects of Pass/Fail USMLE Step 1 Scoring on the Otolaryngology Residency Application Process

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khodayar Goshtasbi ◽  
Mehdi Abouzari ◽  
Tjoson Tjoa ◽  
Sonya Malekzadeh ◽  
Naveen D. Bhandarkar
Keyword(s):  
Application Process ◽  
Usmle Step 1 ◽  
Usmle Step ◽  
Residency Application

scholarly journals Ophthalmology Program Director Perspectives of Scoring Step 1 Pass/Fail

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. e251-e254
Author(s):  
Saif A. Hamdan ◽  
Alan T. Makhoul ◽  
Brian C. Drolet ◽  
Jennifer L. Lindsey ◽  
Janice C. Law
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Application Process ◽  
Medical Graduates ◽  
Medical Licensing ◽  
Usmle Step 1 ◽  
Licensing Examination ◽  
Usmle Step ◽  
Residency Application ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Scoring for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 was recently announced to be reported as binary as early as 2022. The general perception among program directors (PDs) in all specialties has largely been negative, but the perspective within ophthalmology remains uncharacterized. Objective This article characterizes ophthalmology residency PDs' perspectives regarding the impact of pass/fail USMLE Step 1 scoring on the residency application process. Methods A validated 19-item anonymous survey was electronically distributed to 111 PDs of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited ophthalmology training programs. Results Fifty-six PDs (50.5%) completed the survey. The median age of respondents was 48 years and the majority were male (71.4%); the average tenure as PD was 7.1 years. Only 6 (10.7%) PDs reported the change of the USMLE Step 1 to pass/fail was a good idea. Most PDs (92.9%) indicated that this will make it more difficult to objectively compare applicants, and many (69.6%) did not agree that the change would improve medical student well-being. The majority (82.1%) indicated that there will be an increased emphasis on Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) scores, and many (70.4%) felt that medical school reputation will be more important in application decisions. Conclusion Most ophthalmology PDs who responded to the survey do not support binary Step 1 scoring. Many raised concerns regarding shifted overemphasis on Step 2 CK, uncertain impact on student well-being, and potential to disadvantage certain groups of medical students including international medical graduates. These concerns highlight the need for reform in the ophthalmology application process.

scholarly journals Surveying Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents About Their Residency Applications, Interviews, and Ranking

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-265
Author(s):  
Karen E. George ◽  
Gregory M. Gressel ◽  
Tony Ogburn ◽  
Mark B. Woodland ◽  
Erika Banks
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Obstetrics And Gynecology ◽  
Application Process ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Usmle Step 1 ◽  
Usmle Step ◽  
Residency Application

ABSTRACT Background Residency applications have increased in the last decade, creating growing challenges for applicants and programs. Objective We evaluated factors associated with application and match into obstetrics and gynecology residency. Methods During the annual in-training examination administered to all obstetrics and gynecology residents in the United States, residents were surveyed on the residency application process. Results Ninety-five percent (5094 of 5347) residents responded to the survey. Thirty-six percent reported applying to 30 or fewer programs, 26.7% applied to more than 31 programs, and 37.1% opted not to answer this question. Forty-nine percent of residents received honors in their obstetrics and gynecology clerkship and 37.1% did not. The majority of residents (88.6%) reported scoring between 200 and 250 on USMLE Step 1. Eighty-six percent matched into one of their top 5 programs. The only factor associated with matching in residents' top 5 programs was receiving honors in their clerkship (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.08–1.54; P &lt; .005). The only factor associated with matching below the top 5 programs was a couples match (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.43–0.72; P &lt; .001). In choosing where to apply, residents identified program location and reputation as the most important factors, while for ranking, location and residency culture were the most important. Conclusions Most obstetrics and gynecology residents reported matching into their top 5 choices. Receiving an honors grade in the clerkship was the only factor associated with matching in applicants' top 5 programs. Location was the most important factor for applying to and ranking of programs.

scholarly journals Correlation of Ophthalmology Residency Application Characteristics with Subsequent Performance in Residency

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (02) ◽  
pp. e151-e157
Author(s):  
Brett M. Gudgel ◽  
Andrew T. Melson ◽  
Justin Dvorak ◽  
Kai Ding ◽  
R. Michael Siatkowski
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Resident Performance ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
University Of Oklahoma ◽  
Usmle Step 1 ◽  
Application Characteristics ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
Residency Application ◽  
Core Clerkship

Abstract Purpose Only from reviewing applications, it is difficult to identify which applicants will be successful ophthalmology residents. The change of the USMLE Step 1 scoring to “Pass/Fail” removes another quantitative metric. We aimed to identify application attributes correlated with successful residency performance. This study also used artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate letters of recommendation (LOR), the Dean's letter (MSPE), and personal statement (PS). Design Retrospective analysis of application characteristics versus residency performance was conducted. Participants Residents who graduated from the Dean McGee Eye Institute/University of Oklahoma Ophthalmology residency from 2004 to 2019 were included in this study. Methods Thirty-four attributes were recorded from each application. Residents were subjectively ranked into tertiles and top and bottom deciles based on residency performance by faculty present during their training. The Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) examination scores were used as an objective performance metric. Analysis was performed to identify associations between application attributes and tertile/decile ranking. Additional analysis used AI and natural language processing to evaluate applicant LORs, MSPE, and PS. Main Outcome Measures Characteristics from residency applications that correlate with resident performance were the primary outcome of this study. Results Fifty-five residents and 21 faculty members were included. A grade of “A” or “Honors” in the obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN) clerkship and the presence of a home ophthalmology department were associated with ranking in the top tertile but not the top decile. Mean core clerkship grades, medical school ranking in the top 25 U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) primary care rankings, and postgraduate year (PGY)-2 and PGY-3 OKAP scores were predictive of being ranked in both the top tertile and the top decile. USMLE scores, alpha-omega-alpha (AOA) status, and number of publications did not correlate with subjective resident performance. AI analysis of LORs, MSPE, and PS did not identify any text features that correlated with resident performance. Conclusions Many metrics traditionally felt to be predictive of residency success (USMLE scores, AOA status, and research) did not predict resident success in our study. We did confirm the importance of core clerkship grades and medical school ranking. Objective measures of success such as PGY-2 and PGY-3 OKAP scores were associated with high subjective ranking.

scholarly journals Medical School Resourcing of USMLE Step 1 Preparation: Questioning the Validity of Step 1

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1141-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary L. Beck Dallaghan ◽  
Julie Story Byerley ◽  
Neva Howard ◽  
William C. Bennett ◽  
Kurt O. Gilliland
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
Usmle Step 1 ◽  
Usmle Step
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