www.nrmp.org December 2008 Results of the 2008 NRMP Program Director Survey Requests for permission to use these data as well as questions about the content of this publication or the National Resident Matching Program data collections may be directed to Philip Szenas, Director of Research, National Resident Matching Program, at pszenas@aamc.org. Questions about the NRMP should be directed to Mona Signer, Executive Director, NRMP, at msigner@aamc.org. Suggested Citation National Resident Matching Program, Data Release and Research Committee: Results of the 2008 NRMP Program Director Survey. National Resident Matching Program, Washington, DC. 2008. Copyright ©2008 National Resident Matching Program. Table of Contents Introduction 1 All Specialties 2 Charts for Individual Specialties Anesthesiology 9 Dermatology 16 Diagnostic Radiology 23 Emergency Medicine 30 Family Medicine 37 General Surgery 44 Internal Medicine 51 Internal Medicine/Pediatrics 58 Neurology 65 Obstetrics and Gynecology 72 Orthopaedic Surgery 79 Otolaryngology 86 Pathology-Anatomic and Clinical 93 Pediatrics 100 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 107 Plastic Surgery 114 Psychiatry 121 Radiation Oncology 128 Transitional Year 135 Introduction The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) conducted a survey of the directors of all programs participating in the 2008 Main Residency Match. The primary purpose of the survey was to shed light on the factors that program directors use in both (1) selecting applicant to interview and (2) ranking applicants for the Match. The survey was fielded during the 19 days between the rank order list deadline and Match Week so that program match outcomes would not influence respondents' answers. The survey solicited information on: • The number of applications received, screened, and reviewed, as well as the number of applicants interviewed and ranked • The percentage of interview slots offered prior to the November 1 release date of the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE/Dean's Letter) • Whether the program typically interviews and ranks specific applicant groups • The use of test scores in considering which applicants to interview, and • The factors used for both interview selection and for ranking applicants. The overall response rate for the 19 largest specialties detailed in this report was 55.6 percent; and ranged from a high of 70.0 percent for Emergency Medicine to a low of 39.0 for Transitional Year (see table below). This report presents preliminary results on selected items from the survey by specialty. The NRMP hopes that program directors, school officials, and applicants find these data useful as they prepare for and participate in the Match. _______________ The NRMP's data reporting and research activities are guided by its Data Release and Research Committee. NRMP data and reports can be found at: www.nrmp.org/data/. Specialty Surveys Sent Number Responding Response Rate Anesthesiology 169 84 49.7% Dermatology 110 61 55.5% Diagnostic Radiology 205 109 53.2% Emergency Medicine 140 98 70.0% Family Medicine 455 282 62.0% General Surgery 241 112 46.5% Internal Medicine 423 200 47.3% Internal Medicine/Pediatrics 79 36 45.6% Neurology 131 73 55.7% Obstetrics and Gynecology 238 146 61.3% Orthopaedic Surgery 160 87 54.4% Otolaryngology 105 59 56.2% Pathology-Anatomic and Clinical 146 99 67.8% Pediatrics 189 127 67.2% Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 89 46 51.7% Plastic Surgery 48 32 66.7% Psychiatry 182 96 52.7% Radiation Oncology 77 45 58.4% Transitional Year 123 48 39.0% Total: 3,310 1,840 55.6% NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 1 A ll Specialties Combined NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 2 Figure 1 All Specialties Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor in Selecting Applicants to Interview Medical School Performance and Test Scores 76% 71% 69% 69% 66% 63% 63% 62% 49% 75% 75% 74% 73% 82% 70% 34% 64% 54% 53% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) Grades in required clerkships Grades in clerkship in desired specialty Gaps in medical education Class ranking/quartile Honors in clinical clerkships Consistency of grades Honors in clerkship in desired specialty Honors in basic sciences Department chair in the specialty Colleague in the specialty Clerkship director in the specialty Other faculty USMLE/COMLEX Step 1 score USMLE/COMLEX Step 2 score USMLE/COMLEX Step 3 score Graduate of U.S. allopathic medical school Graduate of highly regarded U.S. medical school Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership Medical School Performance Standardized Test Score s U.S. Allopathic Graduate s Letters of Recommendation from NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 3 Figure 1 (continued) All Specialties Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor in Selecting Applicants to Interview Other Factors 75% 59% 59% 57% 56% 52% 41% 66% 66% 64% 59% 34% 45% 42% 41% 38% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Personal Statement Volunteer/extracurricular experiences Other life experience Applicant was flagged with NRMP match violation Community service Visa status Fluency in language spoken by patient population Perceived commitment to specialty Personal prior knowledge of the applicant Audition elective/rotation within your department Perceived interest in program Away rotation in your specialty at another institution Involvement in research Interest in research Involvement in specialty-specific research Interest in academic career Personal Statemen t Commitmen t Research NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 4 All Specialties Mean Importance Ratings* of Factors in Applicant Ranking Medical School Performance and Test Scores *Ratings on a scale from 1 (not at all important) to 5 (very important). 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.8 2.9 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.8 3.3 3.2 3.8 3.6 2.3 12345 Grades in clerkship in desired specialty Grades in required clerkships Honors in clerkship in desired specialty Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) Honors in clinical clerkships Class ranking/quartile Consistency of grades Gaps in medical education Honors in basic sciences Clerkship director in specialty Colleague in the specialty Chair in the specialty Other faculty Graduate of U.S. allopathic medical school Graduate of highly regarded U.S. medical school Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership USMLE/COMLEX Step 1 score USMLE/COMLEX Step 2 score USMLE/COMLEX Step 3 score Mean Rating +/- 1 Standard Deviation Medical School Performance/Grade s U.S. Allopathic Graduate s Standardized Test Score s Letters of Recommendation from Figure 2 NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 5 Figure 2 (continued) All Specialties Mean Importance Ratings* of Factors in Applicant Ranking Other Factors *Ratings on a scale from 1 (not at all important) to 5 (very important). 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1 3.8 4.1 3.7 4.3 3.4 3.1 3.6 3.6 2.5 3.3 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.3 12345 Interpersonal skills exhibited during interview Interactions with faculty during interview Professional attributes exhibited during interview Interactions with housestaff during interview Feedback from current residents Leadership qualities exhibited during interview Perceived commitment to specialty Perceived interest in program Applicant was flagged with NRMP Match violation Visa status Fluency in language spoken by patient population Personal prior knowledge of the applicant Audition elective/rotation within your department Away rotation in your specialty at another institution Personal statement Other life experience Volunteer/extracurricular experiences Community service Demonstrated involvement in research Interest in research Involvement in specialty-specific research Interest in academic career Other post-interview contact Second interview/visit Mean +/- 1 Standard Deviation Residency Interview Personal Statemen t Research Involvemen t Miscellaneous Applicant Consideration s Personal Knowledge of Applican t Post Interview Contac t NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 6 USMLE Step 2 41.4% 21.4% 66.3% 33.2% 12.3% 25.4% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Yes, pass only Yes, target score Not Required Never Seldom Often USMLE Step 1 40.8% 56.9% 18.7% 64.8% 16.5% 2.3% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Yes, pass only Yes, target score Not Required Never Seldom Often Scores Reqired? If Required, Do You Consider Applicants Who Failed Exam on 1st Attempt? Scores Reqired? If Required, Do You Consider Applicants Who Failed Exam on 1st Attempt? Figure 3 All Specialties Percentage of Programs That Use USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Scores When Considering Which Applicants to Interview NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 7 [...]... Specialties Percentage of Program' s Interview Slots Offered Prior to the November 1st MSPE Release Date Percent of Programs 40% 34.8% 30% 20% 19.1% 15.7% 15% 12% 10% 3.4% 0% 0% 1-24% 25-49% 50-74% Percent of Interview Slots Filled NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 8 75-99% 100% Anesthesiology NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 9 Figure AN-1 Anesthesiology Percentage of Programs Citing Each... Not Required NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 Never 21 Seldom Often Figure DM-4 100% Dermatology Percentage of Program' s Interview Slots Offered Prior to the November 1st MSPE Release Date Percent of Programs 93.3% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 3.3% 0% 1.7% 1.7% 0% 25-49% 50-74% 75-99% 100% 0% 0% 1-24% Percent of Interview Slots Filled NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 22 Diagnostic... Offered Prior to the November 1st MSPE Release Date Percent of Programs 43.5% 30% 24.1% 20% 10% 12% 8.3% 8.3% 3.7% 0% 0% 1-24% 25-49% 50-74% Percent of Interview Slots Filled NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 29 75-99% 100% Emergency Medicine NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 30 Figure EM-1 Emergency Medicine Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor in Selecting Applicants to Interview... Seldom Often USMLE Step 2 Scores Reqired? 80% If Required, Do You Consider Applicants Who Failed Exam on 1st Attempt? 60% 63.4% 58% 40% 35.8% 33.8% 20% 0% 2.8% 6.2% Yes, pass only Yes, target score Not Required NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 Never 14 Seldom Often Figure AN-4 Anesthesiology Percentage of Program' s Interview Slots Offered Prior to the November 1st MSPE Release Date Percent of Programs... Release Date Percent of Programs 30% 20% 20.5% 21.7% 19.3% 15.7% 16.9% 10% 6% 0% 0% 1-24% 25-49% 50-74% Percent of Interview Slots Filled NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 15 75-99% 100% Dermatology NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 16 Figure DM-1 Dermatology Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor in Selecting Applicants to Interview Medical School Performance and Test Scores 0%... Required Never Seldom Often USMLE Step 2 Scores Reqired? 60% If Required, Do You Consider Applicants Who Failed Exam on 1st Attempt? 51.2% 47.6% 45.7% 40% 41% 20% 13.3% 1.2% 0% Yes, pass only Yes, target score Not Required NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 Never 28 Seldom Often Figure DR-4 50% 40% Diagnostic Radiology Percentage of Program' s Interview Slots Offered Prior to the November 1st MSPE... school 65% Graduate of highly regarded U.S medical school 58% Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 55% 10 100% Figure AN-1 Anesthesiology (continued) Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor in Selecting Applicants to Interview Other Factors 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Personal Statement 66% Personal Statement Volunteer/extracurricular experiences 57% Other life experience... school 76% Graduate of highly regarded U.S medical school 58% Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 71% 17 100% Figure DM-1 Dermatology (continued) Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor in Selecting Applicants to Interview Other Factors 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Personal Statement 91% Personal Statement 78% Volunteer/extracurricular experiences 73% Other life experience... 77% Graduate of highly regarded U.S medical school 69% Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 78% 24 100% Figure DR-1 (continued) Diagnostic Radiology Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor in Selecting Applicants to Interview Other Factors 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Personal Statement 79% Personal Statement 63% Volunteer/extracurricular experiences 61% Other life experience... school 72% Graduate of highly regarded U.S medical school 62% Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 70% 31 Figure EM-1 Emergency Medicine (continued) Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor in Selecting Applicants to Interview Other Factors 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Personal Statement 73% Personal Statement 69% Volunteer/extracurricular experiences 72% Other life experience . 100% Percent of Interview Slots Filled NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 8 A nesthesiology NRMP Program Director Survey Results, 2008 9 Figure. Introduction The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) conducted a survey of the directors of all programs participating in the 2008 Main Residency Match. The