General Surgery Versus Integrated Surgical Sub-specialties: Predictors for Residency Match and Interview Invites Among Surgical Candidates

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to assess predictive factors for receiving interviews and matching in general surgery (GS), cardiothoracic surgery (TS), vascular surgery (VS), and plastic surgery (PS). DESIGN: The Texas Seeking Transparency in Applications to Residency (STAR) survey was analyzed for match years 2018-2023. Chi-Square Tests of Independence were used to assess differences among participants who received >= 16 vs < 16 interviews and, separately, participants who matched vs went unmatched. Odds ratios (OR) for matching were adjusted for board scores, home region, publications, and honors in applicant specialty. SETTING: All US medical schools participating in the Texas STAR survey from 2018-2023. PARTICIPANTS: All fourth-year students who completed the survey during the study period. RESULTS: Of the 2,687 individuals included, 78.15% applied in GS, 13.58% in PS, 4.43% in VS, and 3.82% in TS. Participants had higher odds of receiving >= 16 interviews when having > 240 step 1 score vs < 239 (OR 1.76(95% CI 1.46-2.12); p < 0.001), > 250 step 2 score vs < 249 (2.42 (2.00-2.91); p < 0.001), honors in their specialty (1.48 (1.21-1.80); p < 0.001), and > 5 publications vs < 4 (1.46 (1.16-1.83); p = 0.001). Odds of matching were lower among PS (0.50 (0.36-0.69); p < 0.001) and TS (0.2 (0.130.31); < 0.001) compared to GS applicants. Participants had higher odds of matching when having > 240 step 1 score vs < 239 (1.33 (1.04-1.70); p = 0.026), > 250 step 2 score vs < 249 (1.52 (1.20-1.92); p < 0.001), and were more likely to match at a program where they indicated a geographic preference (5.49 (2.58-11.66); p < 0.0001) or program signal (3.87 (1.85-8.11); p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The novel geographic preferencing and program signal functions were associated with increased match success. More studies are needed to assess the generalizability of these findings. ( J Surg Ed 82:103314.