Author(s)
Orr Amar, BS
Dhiraj Ramireddy, BS
Shreya Guha, BS
Ziad Kedkad, BS
Jose L. Puglisi, PhD
Michael S. Wong, MD MBA FACS
Affiliation(s)
California Northstate University College of Medicine
Abstract:
Educational Objective: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participants should be able to distill the broad array of metrics that otorhinolaryngology program directors use to evaluate an applicant, including identification of the most impactful categories and their respective trends over the past 17 years.
Objectives: Examining how otorhinolaryngology program director applicant preferences have responded to major changes in the residency process since the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the Pass/Fail grading system for USMLE Step 1.
Study Design: Longitudinal Retrospective Analysis of National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Program Director Survey data in Ranking Applicants for Otorhinolaryngology.
Methods: Data regarding ranking otorhinolaryngology applicants were extracted from all publicly available NRMP Program Director (PD) Surveys from 2007-2024. A composite score was generated by multiplying the mean importance rating (1 to 5 scale) and the percentage of programs citing the factor to provide a weighted measure of significance. For data analysis, composite scores were examined longitudinally from 2007 to 2024 and were stratified into high (greater than 3.5), intermediate (2.5 to 3.4), and low (less than 2.4) weighted tiers to facilitate standardized comparison across time.
Results: The highest weighted ranking factors (greater than 3.5) were consistently interview impressions and resident feedback. Letters of recommendation, professionalism, and leadership, occupied intermediate tiers (2.5 to 3.4), while research involvement, life experience, volunteering, and elective rotations ranked lower (less than 2.4).
Conclusions: Step 1 becoming Pass/Fail has not affected Otorhinolaryngology Program Directors priorities; they continue to rank applicants based on communication skills during the interview. Research production has been doubling every 7 years, so the recent research benchmarks of matched Otorhinolaryngology applicants cannot wholly be attributed to the Step 1 grading change. A significant drop in volunteer and work activities since the COVID-19 pandemic may be attributed to the unavailability of such opportunities.