Changes in Matches into Surgical Residencies and Fellowships Following the ACGME Merger

Abstract

Objective

In 2015, a transition was initiated among the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), resulting in a single accrediting body for residencies and fellowships as of 2020. This study aims to elucidate whether this had an impact on osteopathic students' matching into general surgery residencies, integrated surgery residencies, and surgical fellowships.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Using the Results and Data Residency Match data file and the Results and Data: Specialties Matching Service data from the National Resident Matching Program from 2015 to 2024, data was extracted regarding osteopathic and allopathic match rates into general surgery residency and surgical fellowships, respectively. Applicants were grouped on matching in 2015-2019 (premerger) or 2020-2024 (postmerger). Statistical analysis using the Chi-Square test was performed to determine if there was a significant difference in the mean number of matches in the pre and postmerger groups (p < 0.05).

Results

Postmerger, the proportion of osteopathic students matching into general surgery residency increased significantly (DO, 5.77% vs 14.25%, p = 0.032). However, the proportion of osteopathic students who matched into integrated residencies, such as thoracic, plastic, and thoracic surgery, did not increase (p > 0.05). For surgical fellowships, there was no significant increase in the proportion of osteopathic students matching (DO, 6.36% vs 9.59%, p = 0.389). Independently, an increase was seen in osteopathic matches across fellowships; however, it was only significant for vascular (8.16% vs 14.17%, p = 0.013) and hand surgery (3.79% vs 5.86%, p = 0.019).

Conclusions

Postmerger, there was an increase in osteopathic students and physicians filling general surgery residency, vascular, and hand surgery fellowship positions. However, the proportion of osteopathic students who matched into integrated surgery residencies remained the same.