Osteopathic Graduates in Plastic Surgery: How Can We Improve the Pipeline?

Background: Integrated plastic surgery residency is one of the most competitive specialties for medical students to match into. This study was performed to identify trends in osteopathic applicants to plastic surgery and current osteopathic trainees within the field. Furthermore, we explore osteopathic students' perception of plastic surgery and identify methods that our national societies can utilize to foster exposure to the field.

Methods: All integrated and independent plastic surgery training programs were identified from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Trainees' medical education was obtained via program websites and public profiles. An anonymous survey was distributed to Student Affairs directors of all 43 osteopathic medical schools, who were asked to forward the survey to their respective student bodies. The survey consisted of 35 questions, inquiring about exposure and barriers to surgical education opportunities, and overall perception of plastic surgery.

Results: A total of 1245 plastic surgery trainees were included in analysis. Within integrated programs, osteopathic graduates account for 1.2% of current postgraduate year 1-5 residents. Our survey gauging osteopathic students' perception of plastic surgery received 252 responses from 7 osteopathic schools; 87.4% of students believed that exposure is lacking at their institution and 92.6% of students interested in subinternships experienced barriers arranging these experiences.

Conclusions: Osteopathic graduates represent a minority of plastic surgery trainees, which may be attributed to barriers encountered by osteopathic students when seeking exposure to plastic surgery during their undergraduate medical education. Early exposure and increased opportunities for mentorship and away rotations may encourage more osteopathic students to pursue plastic surgery.