Purpose:
Residency selection is an important process for residents and residency program directors. Little data exists on what predicts successful matching in a residency program. The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of international medical students applying for ophthalmology residency and evaluate predictors of successful matching.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of international medical students who applied to an ophthalmology residency program from 2003-2008 through the SFMATCH program. We assessed for predictors of matching to an ophthalmology program including USMLE score and number of applications. The primary outcome was successful matching to a US ophthalmology residency training program.
Results:
There were 1101 ophthalmology residency applicants who graduated from a medical school outside of the United States. From 2003-2008, 170 of 1101 applicants matched (15%) (Table 1). The countries with the highest number of applicants were India (259), Caribbean (115), China (60), Iran (58), and Egypt (43). In a univariate analysis using number of applications as a predictor, each 10-unit increase in the number of applications submitted was associated with an nearly 3-fold increase in odds of matching (OR=2.9, P<.0001). The average USMLE Step 1 score of applicants who matched was 221 and the average USMLE Step 1 score of applicants who did not match was 213 (p<.0001). In a univariate analysis using USMLE Step 1 score as a predictor of matching, each 10-unit increase in USMLE Step 1 score was associated with an 18% increase in odds of matching. Figure 1 plots the USMLE score and the probability of matching
Conclusions:
Applicants from international medical schools represent a varied and important part of the applicant pool to U.S. ophthalmology residency training programs. Higher USMLE step 1 score and increased number of applications are associated with an increase in odds of matching.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: health care delivery/economics/manpower • training/teaching cataract surgery