Residency program factors affecting ACVS board examination pass rates from 2017 to 2021: A survey of ACVS small animal surgery residency programs

Objective To identify small animal surgery (SAS) residency program factors associated with board examination pass rates for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) board certification examinations. Study design Online survey. Sample population Program directors of ACVS-registered SAS residency programs. Methods An online survey was distributed to eligible 2021 ACVS SAS residency program directors. Respondents provided program information and Phase I and Phase II board examination pass rate data from 2017 to 2021. Programs were grouped based on overall combined board examination pass rates as "excellent" (>= 90%) versus "adequate" (<90%). Data were analyzed using recursive partitioning. Results Responses from 36 ACVS SAS residency programs (18 private practice [PP], 18 academic programs [AP]) were included. Pass rates were considered "excellent" for 17/36 programs (11/17 AP, 6/17 PP). The strongest indicator of "excellent" programs was most mentors participating in rounds >75% of the time. Of those, the second indicator of "excellent" programs was a soft tissue caseload of <7 surgeries/resident/week. If the soft tissue caseload was >7 surgeries/resident/week, a high orthopedic caseload (>9 surgeries/resident/week) was indicative of "excellent" programs. If most mentors were not participating in rounds >75% of the time, APs were more likely to be "excellent." Conclusion SAS APs may have higher ACVS board examination pass rates. Mentor involvement, caseload, and residency practice type may influence board examination pass rates. Clinical impact ACVS SAS residency programs' board examination pass rates may improve by optimizing mentor involvement and caseload regardless of practice type.