Abstract: What Makes a Plastic Surgery Residency Attractive: An Applicant's Perspective (Plastic Surgery 2014)

Saturday, October 11, 2014: 1:35 PM

David Atashroo, MD , Plastic Surgery, Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Vyas Krishna, BS , University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Elizabeth R Zielins, MD , Plastic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Zeshaan N. Maan, MBBS, MSc, MRCS , Plastic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Graham G Walmsley, BA , Plastic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Michael P. Lynch, MD , Plastic Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Daniel Davenport, PhD , University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Michael T Longaker, MD, MBA , Plastic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Henry H Vasconez, MD, FAAP , University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Presentation PDF file

Introduction

Plastic Surgery is among the most competitive specialties, but little is known about the characteristics of programs that are most attractive to successful applicants. This study aimed to understand program characteristics that are most influential to students when ranking plastic surgery programs and to identify changes that programs may make to improve and attract the best students.

Methods

An anonymous, 21-question, multiple choice and open response online survey of newly matched plastic surgery residents in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 academic years was conducted. Subjects were queried regarding their personal qualifications, application experiences, and motivations for residency program selection.

Results

A total of 92 out of 245 matched plastic surgery resident responded for a participation rate of 38%. Applicants with Step I scores greater than 245 received significantly more interviews (*p=.001) and ranked likelihood to be happy and resident benefits as significantly less important (*p<.05), but geographic location as significantly more important (*p=.005). Applicants who had published more than 2 manuscripts received significantly more interviews (*p=.001), and they ranked the presence of a strong research infrastructure, program reputation, and overall strength of training as significantly more important (*p<.05), but plastic surgery months as significantly less important (*p<.05). 42% of applicants completed an away rotation at the program which they matched, and these applicants were significantly more likely to match at their number one ranked program (*p=.001). Overall, applicants identified programs where residents appeared extremely happy as the most positive in influencing their ranking (99%), followed by high reported OR case numbers (96%), presence of a faculty mentorship program (89%), and strong research infrastructure (73%). Of all the disciplines in Plastic Surgery tested, newly matched residents expressed that strength in reconstructive surgery excluding breast was the most attractive to them, followed by Pediatric and Craniofacial Surgery, Microsurgery, Hand Surgery, Breast Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, and finally Burn Surgery.

Conclusions

Plastic surgery applicants have differing preferences, but some attributes resonate similarly among applicants, and these trends can guide programs for improvement.

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