Evaluation of Factors Associated with Successful Matriculation to Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship

BACKGROUND As an increasing number of general surgery residents apply for fellowship positions, it is important to identify factors associated with successful matriculation. For applicants to colon and rectal surgery, there are currently no objective data available to distinguish which applicant attributes lead to successful matriculation. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to identify objective factors that differentiate colon and rectal surgery fellowship applicants who successfully matriculate with those who apply but do not matriculate. DESIGN This was a retrospective analysis of colon and rectal surgery applicant characteristics. SETTINGS Deidentified applicant data provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges from 2015 to 2017 were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Applicant demographics, medical school and residency factors, number of program applications, number of publications, and journal impact factors were analyzed to determine associations with successful matriculation. RESULTS Most applicants (n = 371) and subsequent matriculants (n = 248) were white (61%, 62%), male (65%, 63%), US citizens (80%, 88%) who graduated from US allopathic medical schools (66%, 75%). Statistically significant associations included graduation from US allopathic medical schools (p < 0.0001), US citizenship (p < 0.0001), and number of program applications (p = 0.0004). Other factors analyzed included American Osteopathic Association membership (p = 0.57), university-based residency (p = 0.51), and residency association with a colon and rectal surgery training program (p = 0.89). Number of publications and journal impact factors were not statistically different between cohorts (p = 0.067, p = 0.150). LIMITATIONS American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination scores, rank list, and subjective characteristics, such as strength of interview and letters of recommendation, were not available using our data source. CONCLUSIONS Successful matriculation to a colon and rectal surgery fellowship program was found to be associated with US citizenship, graduation from a US allopathic medical school, and greater number of program applications. The remaining objective metrics analyzed were not associated with successful matriculation. Subjective and objective factors that were unable to be measured by this study are likely to play a determining role. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B415. EVALUACIN DE FACTORES VINCULADOS EN LA INMATRICULACIN EXITOSA PARA BECAS DE CIRUGA COLORRECTAL ANTECEDENTES:A medida que un numero cada vez mayor de residentes de Cirugia General solicitan una beca, es importante identificar los factores vinculados con una inmatriculacion exitosa. Para los candidatos a una beca en Cirugia Colorrectal, hoy en dia no existen datos objetivos disponibles para distinguir que atributos del solicitante conducen a una inmatriculacion exitosa.OBJETIVO:Identificar objetivamente los factores que diferencian un candidato a una beca en Cirugia Colorrectal que se inmatricula con exito de aquel que aplica pero no llega a inmatricularse.DISENO:Analisis retrospectivo de las caracteristicas de los solicitantes de beca para Cirugia Colorrecatl.AJUSTES:Datos de los solicitantes no identificados, proporcionados por la Asociacion de Colegios Medicos Estadounidenses de 2015 a 2017.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:Se analizaron los factores demograficos del solicitante, las facultades de medicina y los factores de la residencia, el numero de solicitudes de programas, el numero y el factor de impacto de las publicaciones realizadas para determinar la asociacion con una inmatriculacion exitosa.RESULTADOS:La mayoria de los solicitantes (n = 371) que posteriormente fueron inmatriculados exitosamente (n = 248) eran blancos (61%, 62%, respectivamente), hombres (65%, 63%), ciudadanos estadounidenses (80%, 88%) que se graduaron de Facultades de medicina alopatica en los EE. UU. (66%, 75%). Las asociaciones estadisticamente significativas incluyeron la graduacion de las escuelas de medicina alopatica de los EE. UU. (P <0,0001), la ciudadania de los EE. UU. (P <0,0001) y el numero de solicitudes de programas (p = 0,0004). Otros factores analizados incluyeron: membresia AOA (p = 0,57), la residencia universitaria (p = 0,51) y asociacion de la residencia con un programa de formacion en Cirugia Colorrectal (p = 0,89). El numero de publicaciones y los factores de impacto de las revistas no fueron estadisticamente diferentes entre las cohortes (p = 0,067, p = 0,15, respectivamente).LIMITACIONES:El Score ABSITE, la posicion en lista de clasificacion y las caracteristicas subjetivas como el de una buena entrevista y las cartas de recomendacion no se encontraban disponibles en la fuente de datos.CONCLUSIONES:Se encontro que la inmatriculacion exitosa a un programa de becas de Cirugia Colorreectal estaba asociada con la ciudadania estadounidense, la graduacion en una Facultad de medicina alopatica en los EE. UU, y al mayor numero de solicitudes de programas. El analisis de las medidas objetivas restantes no se asociaron con una inmatriculacion exitosa. Es probable que los factores subjetivos y objetivos que no pudieron ser medidos por este estudio jueguen un papel determinante. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B415. (Traduccion-Dr Xavier Delgadillo).