Cubells Caroline, Martinez Philip, Heilenbach Noah, Lee Ting-Fang, Elkin Zachary
Department of Ophthalmology, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York.
Department of Ophthalmology, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York; Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York.
J AAPOS. 2025 Jun;29(3):104215. doi: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2025.104215. Epub 2025 May 10.
The number of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus (PO&S) fellowship positions filled each year remains consistently lower compared with other subspecialities. It is unclear where along the recruitment pathway trainees interested in pediatrics decide to select other subspecialities. This study assesses for differences in the competitiveness of ophthalmology residency applicants based on interest in PO&S, which may impact their ability to matriculate into residency.
We reviewed the 2022-2023 San Francisco (SF) Match applications submitted to a single ophthalmology residency program. Stated fellowship interest, demographic characteristics, academic performance, research activities, and other selection factors were recorded. The χ and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare categorical and continuous variables, respectively.
Of the 631 applications reviewed, 125 (19.8%) of applicants stated a subspeciality interest. Among those who stated an interest, 34 (27.2%) were interested in PO&S. When compared to all other applicants (with or without a stated subspecialty interest), applicants interested in PO&S were more likely to be female (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found in academic, research, or extracurricular variables based on subspeciality interest in PO&S. The same was true when applicants interested in PO&S were compared to those interested in competitive subspecialities (cornea, glaucoma, retina, or oculoplastics).
Applicants interested in PO&S were observed to be as competitive as other applicants. Among students who expressed a fellowship interest, there was a high proportion interested in pediatrics. Recruitment efforts can be targeted toward encouraging medical students interested in pediatrics to apply into ophthalmology.
与其他亚专业相比，每年填补的小儿眼科与斜视（PO&S）专科培训职位数量一直较少。尚不清楚对儿科感兴趣的学员在招聘过程中的哪个环节决定选择其他亚专业。本研究评估了基于对PO&S的兴趣，眼科住院医师申请人竞争力的差异，这可能会影响他们进入住院医师培训的能力。
我们回顾了提交给一个眼科住院医师项目的2022 - 2023年旧金山（SF）匹配申请。记录了所述的专科培训兴趣、人口统计学特征、学术表现、研究活动及其他选拔因素。分别使用χ检验和曼 - 惠特尼U检验来比较分类变量和连续变量。
在审查的631份申请中，125名（19.8%）申请人表明了亚专业兴趣。在表明有兴趣的人中，34名（27.2%）对PO&S感兴趣。与所有其他申请人（无论是否表明有亚专业兴趣）相比，对PO&S感兴趣的申请人更可能为女性（P < 0.001）。基于对PO&S的亚专业兴趣，在学术、研究或课外变量方面未发现显著差异。将对PO&S感兴趣的申请人与对竞争激烈的亚专业（角膜、青光眼、视网膜或眼整形）感兴趣的申请人进行比较时，情况也是如此。
观察发现对PO&S感兴趣的申请人与其他申请人具有同样的竞争力。在表达了专科培训兴趣的学生中，对儿科感兴趣的比例很高。招聘工作可以针对鼓励对儿科感兴趣的医学生申请眼科专业。
