A 10-Year Report on the Trends of Osteopathic Medical Students (OMS) in Osteopathic Orthopaedic Residency over the Past Decade.

Abstract

Objectives: Osteopathic match rates in competitive specialties, such as orthopaedics, have been under intense scrutiny. This study aimed to quantify trends in the characteristics of Osteopathic Orthopaedic Surgical Residency training and education from graduating classes of 2010-2020.

Methods: This was a retrospective evaluation of a large, longitudinally maintained database of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) from orthopaedic residency graduating classes of 2010-2020. Trends in characteristics were analyzed, including the resident's age at graduation from medical school and residency, gender, advanced degree status, College or School of Osteopathic Medicine (COM/SOM), residency, and residency class year.

Results: Overall, the number of osteopathic orthopaedic residents had a 32.9% increase from 85 to 113 per year, graduating over the past decade. Statistical forecasting predicts a 27.8% increase in osteopathic orthopaedic residents over the next decade. The percent composition of osteopathic students entering orthopaedic residency class by gender remained relatively stable. The average percent male composition of the orthopaedic residency class was 90.5%, ranging from a maximum of 96.1% and a minimum of 83.7%. While the average percent female composition of orthopaedic residency class was 9.5% for the past decade, statistical forecasting predicts that over the next decade, the average percent composition of females in orthopaedic residency will be 5.8%. The average age of residents at graduation was 33.4 years, while across the decade, resident age at graduation decreased by 9.8%. On average, female orthopaedic residents at graduation were younger than male orthopaedic residents. Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institute (OPTI)-West/Community Memorial Health System Orthopaedic Surgery Residency had the highest average age at residency graduation (35.7 years), and Lake Erie COM/York Hospital Orthopaedic Surgery Residency had the youngest average age at residency graduation (32 years). Edward Via COM-Carolinas Campus had the highest average age at graduation from medical school (30.5 years), and Touro COM had the lowest average age at graduation from medical school (26.7 years). Only 3.3% of osteopathic orthopaedic residents had additional advanced degrees. Philadelphia COM produced the most significant number of orthopaedic residents (89) and trained the most female orthopaedic surgeons of any program over the ten years.

Conclusions: The number of osteopathic medical students entering orthopaedics has increased over the past decade. However, there remains a lack of a similar increasing trend of female osteopathic medical students entering osteopathic orthopaedic residency programs. Interestingly, the age of osteopathic orthopaedic residents at graduation decreased across the decade, while advanced degrees did not play a statistically significant factor in matching into orthopaedic surgery. The osteopathic medical school was the most significant predicting factor in matching into orthopaedic surgery. With such knowledge, greater efforts should aim to enhance osteopathic medical student exposure to orthopaedic programs to maintain quality candidate interest in this competitive field, including female prospects, while also increasing the holistic diversity of characteristics within the field of orthopaedic surgery.