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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Academic Ophthalmology 2021; 13(01): e19-e25
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1723849
Research Article

The Impact of Away Rotations on the Ophthalmology Residency Match

Hanna L. Tso 
1   Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana
,
Jason Young
1   Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana
,
Charline S. Boente
1   Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana
,
Chi Wah Yung
1   Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Eye Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Abstract

Background The ophthalmology residency match is highly competitive, and fourth-year medical students frequently complete away rotations at other institutions hoping to increase their chances of matching.

Objective The study aimed to determine the impact of away rotations on the ophthalmology residency selection process and to provide recommendations to faculty for counseling fourth-year medical students as they prepare for the ophthalmology match.

Methods A survey was sent in June 2020 to program directors (PDs), medical student educators (MSEs), and residents at 119 accredited ophthalmology residency programs via the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology e-mail listserv. The 43 PDs and 38 MSEs who responded were asked questions about their views regarding away rotations and visiting students during the residency selection process. The 83 resident respondents were asked about their interview and match success after completing away rotations. Categorical variables were analyzed by Chi-square test.

Results The majority of PDs and MSEs typically recommend that fourth-year medical students complete away rotations (p = 0.022 and p = 0.194, respectively). The majority believe that an away rotation will increase the chance of the applicant matching with the host institution (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001, respectively). The vast majority of PDs were more likely to offer an interview to a visiting student compared with another equally qualified applicant (p < 0.001). However, only one-third of PDs were typically more likely to rank an away rotator higher on their rank list (p = 0.047). Two-thirds of residents completed at least one away rotation in medical school (mean = 1.7 rotations). The majority received interview invitations from at least some of their host institutions (p < 0.001). Approximately one-fifth ultimately matched at a host residency program (p < 0.001).

Conclusion The majority of ophthalmology PDs and MSEs surveyed recommend that fourth-year medical students complete away rotations and believe that these rotations will increase the chance of the applicant matching at a host institution. The PDs are more likely to offer an interview to a visiting student compared with another equally qualified applicant. For some programs, visiting students may also receive special consideration by being ranked higher on a program's rank list and being more likely to match.

Keywords

medical education - residency match - away rotations - audition electives

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 12 August 2020

Accepted: 18 November 2020

Article published online:
26 February 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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