Geographic Trends in the Ophthalmology Residency Match: Influence of Program and Applicant Characteristics

Abstract

Introduction The ophthalmology residency match remains competitive. Several prior studies have examined various factors that contribute to a successful match into an ophthalmology residency program; however, the role of geographic location in the ophthalmology residency match process is unclear. The purpose of our study was to evaluate geographic trends in the ophthalmology residency match and to determine whether geographic trends vary based on program level factors such as program rank or funding source and/or applicant factors such as year of training, gender, and medical degree earned. Specifically, we assessed associations with residents training at the residency program affiliated with their medical school and/or within the same geographic region as their medical school, using data obtained through publicly available sources and residency program surveys. Methods We used the American Medical Association's Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database database to identify accredited ophthalmology residency programs. Residency program Web sites and email inquiries were used to collect demographic and geographic information for residents in the graduating classes of 2021 to 2023. Statistical analysis included χ2 testing and multivariate logistic regression. Results In total, 1,378 residents were included from 110 ophthalmology residency programs and 218 medical schools. Residents who matched at the residency program affiliated with their medical school (18%) were evenly distributed among the Midwest, Northeast, South, and West regions (p = 0.2236). Residency programs in the West (31.7%) matched fewer regional medical students compared with programs in the South (61.2%), Midwest (57.4%), and Northeast (58.4%) (p < 0.0001). Attending a publicly funded medical school was associated with higher odds of matching into a regional residency program (odds ratio [OR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–1.90; p = 0.0001) and attending a privately funded medical school was associated with higher odds of matching into a top-ranked residency program (OR, 1.53, 95% CI, 1.34–1.82; p = 0.0002). Conclusions The majority of current ophthalmology residents trained at programs in the same geographic region as their medical schools, with nearly 20% of residents training at their medical school-affiliated program. Geographic differences in match results were observed based on resident gender, medical school characteristics, and residency program region.

Relative Importance of Applicant Characteristics in Ophthalmology Residency Interview Selection: A Survey of Program Directors

“…Geographic analyses of match outcomes in many specialties, including ophthalmology, suggest that geographic location may play an important role in determining match outcomes, with the plastic surgery match, orthopaedic surgery match, and otolaryngology match all revealing regional trends in match outcomes, for example. 34 35 36 37 Program directors who responded to our survey ranked “Geographic ties to the residency program” as the 16th most important selection criteria out of 23, with an average score of 3.14 on the 5-point Likert scale, suggesting that program directors believe geographic location is not as important to residency selection as other criteria examined in this study.…”

Self-Reported Perceptions of Preparedness among Incoming Ophthalmology Residents

“…Unfortunately, many medical students interested in ophthalmology are from medical schools without associated ophthalmology programs and therefore lack academic ophthalmologists who are interested in teaching. 11 These gaps exist not only in United States ophthalmology education but in other medical fields on a global scale. 12 13 Online educational resources may be able to help fill this gap.…”

Virtual residency recruitment: future directions in the new era

“…The most common platforms in use currently for virtual interviews are Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc.; San Jose, CA), Skype (Microsoft Inc, Redmond, WA), Webex (Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA), and Facetime (Apple, Inc., Cupertino, CA). Advocates for virtual recruitment processes argue that this approach is applicant-centric allowing substantial cost savings, in addition to avoiding unnecessary travel and time away from medical school educational opportunities, as these two factors created the largest burden for the system [ 19 , 20 ]. Concurrent suspension of away rotations may have reduced barriers for economically disadvantaged applicants and applicants like osteopathic and international medical graduates who have historically not had equal access to these opportunities [ 21 ].…”