Geographical distribution of osteopathic urology residents and match trends in the United States.

Abstract

Context: Applying into urology residency is highly competitive. Disparities in osteopathic (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine [DO]) representation exist within the current urology workforce.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the number of DO graduates in urology residency programs over time and map their current distribution throughout the United States.

Methods: All US urology residency programs for the 2023-2024 academic year were identified, and residents' postgraduate year and degrees, and the program's states, were collected from each program's websites. DO residents were stratified by their postgraduate years to observe the trends in the number of urology residents over the past 5 years. Their geographical distribution was evaluated. The number of DO urology residents per state and their ratio among all urology residents per state were examined.

Results: Among 135 urology residency programs analyzed, 1753 urology residents were identified. Ninety-nine residents hold a DO degree from a total of 39 urology programs (28.9 %). The number of DOs that matched into urology has been steadily increasing from 15 in 2019 to 26 in 2023 (R ²=0.8556, p=0.0244). Michigan had the greatest number of DO urology residents (n=35). Pennsylvania (n=10, 7.81 %) and South Carolina (n=10, 40 %) had the second highest. Illinois (n=7, 7.14 %) had the third highest. More than half of the states with urology residency programs had no DO residents (n=27, 62.8 %).

Conclusions: Osteopathic medical training plays an important role in the urology workforce, and there is an increased recognition of DOs within urology residency programs in the United States. In the era of urologist shortages, efforts to support the contributions of DOs in underserved and rural communities may have a profound impact in this field.