Beyond Single Accreditation: Exploring Factors Influencing Selection of Osteopathic Medical Students in the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Match.

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate DO orthopaedic surgery residents compared with their MD counterparts in traditionally allopathic programs, assessing research productivity, number of departmental DO faculty and alumni, and geographical ties to the residency program.

Methods: The Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database was used to retrospectively identify traditionally allopathic ACGME-accredited orthopaedic surgery residency programs for the 2023 to 2024 year. Residency program websites Scopus, PubMed, and Doximity were used to collect data.

Results: A total of 150 orthopedic surgery residency programs were identified, with 3,712 residents. Of these residents, 58 (1.6%) were DOs and 3,654 (98.4%) were MDs. MDs had a median H-index of 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-4) and median 4 publications (IQR 2-10), whereas DOs had a median H-index of 0 (IQR 0-1) and median 1 publication (IQR 1-3). Sixty-one programs (40%) had DO faculty (138), with 65% (38) matching at a program with ≥1 DO faculty member (20 programs; 13.3%).

Conclusions: Despite a unified accreditation system, this study demonstrates that orthopaedic surgery continues to favor allopathic applicants, with 1.6% of traditionally allopathic program residents being DOs. The presence of DO faculty, alumni, or residents in a program does not significantly impact DO match rates, emphasizing the multifactorial nature of resident selection. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing selection biases and promoting equity in orthopaedic surgery resident selection.