Analysis of the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Application Process using the ThalamusTM Database

Abstract Background The pediatric surgery fellowship interview process is costly and time intensive. We hypothesized that the increasing number of interviews completed by applicants and programs have become inefficient over time. Methods We analyzed pediatric surgery fellowship program and applicant interview data between 2018 and 2020. Cancellations, program fill time, regional analysis of programs and applicants, and program rank list data were also captured. Analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square analysis. Results Our dataset included 34, 41, and 45 programs, which represented 81%, 91%, and 97% of all programs in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. The median number of interviews completed per program remained constant, while the median number of interviews per applicant increased from 9.0 in 2018 to 13.0 in 2020. For 75% of programs, a program required only 4 or less candidates to fill their position. On average, 95.7% of program interviews do not result in a matched candidate. Conclusions Programs offer interviews out of proportion to the number of positions available, and most applicants attend all interviews offered. We recommend an initial program goal of 20 interviews, which may be achieved by increased use of virtual interviews and the creation of program-level data on ideal applicant profiles.