A Survey of Selection Criteria in General Surgery

A Survey of Selection Criteria in General Surgery Residency Programs George Makdisi MD 1 Tetsuya Takeuchi MD 2 James Rucinski MD 2 Leslie Wise MD 2 1 Department College. 2 Department of Surgery, Sound Shore Medical Center , NY Medical of Surgery, NY Methodist Hospital and Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Aims of the study To evaluate the homogeneity of the selection process between programs To find the most important criteria used by programs to select their residents To clarify the selection process for medical students interested in choosing surgery as a career

Methods A 24 -question survey including 14 common criteria of resident selection Sent to Program Directors, Chairs and Associate Program Directors in the United States (246 programs) and Canada (19 programs) 2 series – 263 Valid replies – 65% Response Rate

Respondent Demographics Respondents: 67% Program director 17% Chair 11% Both 5% Associate Program Director

Program Characteristics Program Description 49% - university hospital programs 38% - university affiliated 13% - non university affiliate programs Categorical program size varied from 2 to 15 graduating Chief Residents / year

Program Recruiting Experience • 571 applicants / program • 72 applicants / program granted an interview • 15 applicants /categorical position granted an interview

Resident Demographics 96% of all programs have female residents 66% have international graduates (non LCME) 38% have DO residents

Screening selection by Program Director – 62% Associate Program Director – 17% 31% of programs show selection criteria on web page The most important criteria: USMLE step 1 - 37% USLME step 2 - 24% LCME student - 15%

Final Selection • Final selection by Program Director – 56% • Final selection by Faculty Team - 30% • Strict application of selection criteria – 86%

Research experience • 86% consider research experience in selection criteria • 46% have research activities in program curriculum • 14% have one year research obligation • 47% require at least one publication before graduation

Rank Strength of Selection criteria Likert Scale (5 Point) • Interview - most important factor • USLME step 1 score • Letter of recommendation • USMLE step 2 score • LCME graduate • Previous Preliminary year • Least important factor - 4. 69 points - 4. 21 points - 4. 02 points - 4. 0 points - 3. 95 points - 1. 57 points

Conclusions • Selection criteria exist in all surgical residencies • Resident selection remains subjective & program-specific • USMLE step 1: the most important Screening factor • Interview: the most important Final Selection factor

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