Kovacs Leah D, Zhou Albert E, Korytnikova Ekaterina, Ravi Sowmya, Feng Hao, Weston Gillian, Sloan Brett, Grant-Kels Jane M
University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Department of Dermatology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA.
Clin Dermatol. 2025 Jun 30. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2025.06.003.
The dermatology residency match has become increasingly competitive, culminating in a 2025 US senior MD match rate of 63%, according to the National Resident Matching Program. Considering this trend, a comprehensive, evidence-based review of the application and match process is needed. This contribution marks the first in a three-part literature review series aimed at demystifying the dermatology match, improving access for applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as those underrepresented in medicine, without a home program, or lacking strong mentorship. Part 1 focuses on key components of the application: academic performance, personal statements, board scores, research, leadership and volunteerism, and advanced degrees. The Medical Student Performance Evaluation is an important part of the application, but its curation remains varied, limiting its utility. Personal statements tend to share common themes and are viewed as less influential by program directors. Volunteerism and leadership are viewed favorably, but limited evidence suggests they have a negligible impact on match success. Since the transition to pass/fail step 1 scoring, step 2 scores and research have assumed greater importance. Inflated research counts may obscure true academic quality; nonetheless, matched applicants have higher numbers of publications and presentations on average. Although research fellowships can improve match rates at host institutions, their overall impact remains uncertain, and their financial burdens may exacerbate inequities. Advanced degrees may offer an opportunity to highlight specific interests but do not consistently offer a match advantage or compensate for weaker core metrics. Ethical considerations surrounding each of these components are explored throughout this review.
根据国家住院医师匹配计划，皮肤科住院医师匹配竞争日益激烈，2025年美国医学博士高年级学生的匹配率达到63%。考虑到这一趋势，需要对申请和匹配过程进行全面的、基于证据的审查。本论文是一个系列文献综述的第一篇，共三篇，旨在揭开皮肤科匹配的神秘面纱，改善来自弱势背景的申请人的机会，比如医学领域代表性不足、没有所属项目或缺乏有力指导的申请人。第一部分聚焦申请的关键要素：学业成绩、个人陈述、委员会考试成绩、研究、领导力与志愿服务以及更高学位。医学生表现评估是申请的重要组成部分，但其撰写方式各异，限制了其效用。个人陈述往往有共同主题，项目主任认为其影响力较小。志愿服务和领导力受到好评，但有限的证据表明它们对匹配成功的影响微乎其微。自第一步评分改为及格/不及格制以来，第二步考试成绩和研究变得更加重要。研究计数虚高可能掩盖真正的学术质量；尽管如此，匹配成功的申请人平均发表的论文和做的报告数量更多。虽然研究奖学金可以提高主办机构的匹配率，但其总体影响仍不确定，而且其经济负担可能加剧不平等。更高学位可能提供了一个突出特定兴趣的机会，但并不能始终带来匹配优势，也无法弥补较弱的核心指标。本综述探讨了围绕这些要素的伦理考量。
