1. Matching into a Surgical Residency
Robert L. Hernandez, Jr., M.D.
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

2. Topics The process of obtaining a surgical residency
The competitive applicant

3. So You Want to Be a Surgeon?
A Medical Student’s Online Guide to Finding and Matching with the Best Possible Surgery Residency

4. Surgical Residencies Early Match Ophthalmology Urological Surgery
San Francisco Match – SF Match
Urological Surgery
American Urological Association - AUA
Military Match
Joint Services Graduate Medical Education Board - JSGMEB

5. Surgical Residencies Main Match
National Residency Match Program - NRMP
General Surgery
Neurological Surgery
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Orthopedic Surgery
Otolaryngology
Plastic Surgery
Thoracic Surgery

6. Surgical Fellowships Specialties Matching Service (NRMP - SMS)
Abdominal Transplant Surgery
Colon & Rectal Surgery
Combined Musculoskeletal Matching Program (Hand Surgery)
Female Pelvic Medicine and Reproductive Surgery
Laryngology
Gynecologic Oncology
Surgical Critical Care
Orthopedic Hand Surgery
Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Pediatric Surgery
Vascular Surgery

7. Program Types
Categorical – a program that begins in the PGY-1 year and provides the training required for board certification in a medical specialty.
Preliminary – a one-year program beginning in the PGY-1 year that provides prerequisite training for advanced programs.
Advanced – a program that begins in the PGY-2 year (after one year of preliminary training) and provides the training required for board certification in a medical specialty.
Fellowship – a program of subspecialty training that usually begins after completion of residency training.

8. Preliminary / Advanced
Categorical
Preliminary / Advanced 1 2 3 4 5
6-7
Emergency Medicine
Family Medicine
Internal Medicine
Subspecialties
Pediatrics
Obstetrics / Gynecology
Otolaryngology
Pathology
General Surgery
Neurological Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Urology
Transitional or
Preliminary Medicine
Preliminary Surgery
Anesthesiology
Dermatology
Neurology
Nuclear Medicine
Ophthalmology
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Psychiatry
Radiology - Diagnostic
Radiation Oncology

9. The Competitive Surgery Applicant

10. The Competitive Applicant
The Numbers
Extracurricular Activities
How You Present Yourself
How Others Present You
The “Edge”

11. The Competitive Applicant: Numbers
Grades
Board Scores
Preclinical
Clinical
Class Rank
Alpha Omega Alpha
Step 1
Step 2 CK

12. The Competitive Applicant
Extracurricular Activities
Research
Leadership
Service
Other

13. The Competitive Applicant
How you present yourself
Application / CV
Personal Statement
Interview
Clinical Rotations / Externships

14. The Competitive Applicant
How others present you
Letters of recommendation
Medical Student Performance Evaluation (The Dean’s Letter)
Word of mouth

15. The Competitive Applicant
The “Edge”
Politics
Who do you know?
How well do you know them?
Will they go to bat for you?
Diversity

16. Charting Outcomes in the Match 2011
Characteristics of Applicants Who Matched to Their Preferred Specialty in the
2011 Main Residency Match

17. USMLE Step 1 Scores of Matched U.S. Seniors
Source: Charting Outcomes in the Match, 2011

18. Summary Statistics: General Surgery
Source: Charting Outcomes in the Match, 2011

19. USMLE Step 1 Scores: Matched vs. Unmatched

20. 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey

21. Percentage of Programs Citing Each Factor in Selecting Applicants to Interview
Less Important More Important
Source: 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey

22. Importance Ratings of Factors Used to Rank Candidates
Less Important More Important
Source: 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey

23. General Advice

24. Approaching the Surgical Match: BE PROACTIVE
Figure out what YOU want
Determine if your goals are achievable
Create a reasonable action plan
Have a reasonable back up plan

25. Approaching the Surgical Match: BE INFORMED
Use available resources
Pay attention to s and other communications
Take advantage of opportunities
Ask questions
Seek advice from knowledgeable people
GET THE FACTS!

26. Approaching the Surgical Match: BE REALISTIC
You must take into account the competitiveness of:
the specialty
a program
your application

27. Thank you!
Questions?