Purpose: To evaluate the specialty interests of matched fourth year medical students (MS4s) in OB/GYN and their inclination towards residency tracking.
Background: OB/GYN educational leadership have considered streamlining training processes for residents interested in subspecialization through \"tracking.\" Other fields have done this by offering both fellowship pathways and integrated residency programs. We sought to determine the specialty interests of MS4s matched to OB/GYN and to evaluate their attitudes towards tracking.
Methods: MS4s enrolling in a post-match, text-based residency preparatory curriculum were asked to complete a pre-curriculum survey, which included questions about choice of specialization, confidence in that choice, and desire for residency tracking. Student t-test and Chi square tests were used to assess association of specialty choice with confidence and desire for tracking.
Results: 922 MS4s completed the survey. 433 (47.0%) reported inclination towards generalist practice, 474 (51.4%) desired a subspecialty, and 15 (1.6%) wrote in an alternative fellowship or career path. Those choosing a generalist career were more confident in that decision than those choosing a subspecialist career (66.6% vs 60.0%, p< 0.001). However, those choosing a subspecialty were more likely to desire tracking (15.2% vs 39.5%, p< 0.001). Those most likely to signal high interest in tracking were students desiring to enter FPRMS (22/48, 24/44, 54.5%), MIGS (22/48, 45.8%), and REI (25/61, 41.0%).
Discussions: In a large survey of MS4s entering OB/GYN residencies, 51% were likely to choose a subspecialty over generalist training. Almost 40% of would-be subspecialists are interested in tracking.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2023, Student, Resident, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Residency Director, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, GME, UME,
R. Nicholas Burns, MD, FACOG; University of Washington; Fei Cai, MD; Elizabeth Southworth, MD; Sarah Santiago, MD; Emily Fay, MD; Alyssa Stephenson-Famy, MD
