The sorting hat of specialty veterinary medicine-the proportion of residents sorted into each Hogwarts House varies for different specialties.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether residents in certain veterinary specialties were more likely to be sorted into a particular House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the famous Harry Potter fiction universe.

Methods: This was an observational survey study. An online survey was administered to veterinary residents in an AVMA-accredited residency program from April 17 to June 30, 2023. Residents were asked their specialty, whether their program is academic or private practice, and which Hogwarts House they were sorted into by the Wizarding World website Sorting Ceremony quiz. All completed surveys were included.

Results: 488 veterinary residents participated. Of these, 25% were sorted into Gryffindor, 27% into Hufflepuff, 30% into Ravenclaw, and 18% into Slytherin; 48% of anesthesia and 50% of large animal surgery residents were sorted into Ravenclaw, and 50% of oncology residents were sorted into Hufflepuff. Residents in private practice programs were more commonly sorted into Gryffindor (37%), while those in academic training programs were more commonly sorted into Ravenclaw (33%) compared to other Houses.

Conclusions: The proportion of residents sorted into each Hogwarts House varies for different specialties and training program types. Parallels can be drawn between different specialties and characteristics of each House.

Clinical relevance: Veterinary residents are fairly equally sorted into the 4 Hogwarts Houses, but residents in certain specialties or practice types may be more likely to be sorted into one House than another.