Characteristics of Successful Integrated Plastic Surgery Applicants from US Allopathic Medical Schools without a Home Integrated Program

Abstract

Objective: Integrated plastic surgery (PS) is one of the most competitive residency programs, but current literature lacks data specific to matched applicants from medical schools without home integrated PS residency programs (NHP). Therefore, there is a need to examine this specific demographic of applicants to identify key factors that led to a successful match.

Design: An anonymous survey was sent to PS residents who graduated from US allopathic medical schools with NHP. Survey questions focused on applicants' objective statistics (USMLE scores, research experiences, etc.), as well as various other factors, including access to resources and letters of recommendation.

Setting: All US-based integrated plastic surgery residency programs.

Participants: PGY-1 through PGY-6 integrated PS residents who graduated from US allopathic medical schools with NHP.

Results: The survey was distributed to 178 NHP residents from May to June of 2021, achieving a 55.1% response rate. Thirty-seven percent attended an institution with an independent, but not integrated, residency program. Average USMLE Step 1 and 2 scores were 248 ± 10.1 and 256 ± 9.7, respectively. Respondents reported having 9.8 ± 9.5 abstracts, presentations, and publications listed on their residency applications. NHP applicants had an average of 1.5 letters of recommendation written by away rotation faculty. Forty-five percent reported accessing resources at institutions with home integrated residency programs (HP), 55.6% of whom "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that this significantly helped in matching.

Conclusion: The USMLE Step scores and research experiences of NHP residents are similar to those which are reported among all matched applicants nationally. NHP respondents optimized their success by utilizing plastic surgery-related resources at their own institutions, while often seeking resources at other institutions.

Keywords: Home program; Integrated; Medical education; Plastic surgery; Residency; Survey.