JBJS Open Access (Sep 2023)
Reimagining the Path of an Unmatched Orthopaedic Residency Application
- Stewart A. Bryant, MD,
- Achraf H. Jardaly, MD,
- Brent A. Ponce, MD, FAOA,
- S. Trent Guthrie, MD, FAOA,
- Harris Slone, MD, FAOA,
- Jeremy R. Bruce, MD, FAOA,
- Andrew W. Wilson, MS,
- Charles Cody White, MD,
- Afshin Razi, MD,
- Amiethab Aiyer, MD,
- Andrew Sobel, MD,
- Anil B. Krishnamurthy, MD,
- Ashley Rogerson, MD,
- Benjamin Jackson, MD,
- Brent M. Cone, MD,
- Brian Scannell, MD,
- Brock T. Wentz, MD,
- Carl Paulino, MD,
- Carol Lin, MD,
- Charles J. Gatt, MD,
- Charles Pasque, MD,
- Craig Eberson, MD,
- Daniel Wongworawat, MD,
- Dawn LaPorte, MD,
- Gabriella Ode, MD,
- George Dyer, MD,
- Gregory A. Vrabec, MD,
- Gregory Grabowski, MD,
- Gregory Vrabec, MD,
- Haleh Badkoobehi, MD,
- James Purtill, MD,
- Jayson Brooks, MD,
- Joel Klena, MD,
- John Andrawis, MD,
- Joseph M. Sewards, MD,
- Joseph Weistroffer, MD,
- Joshua Patt, MD,
- Joshua Wright-Chisem, MD,
- Justin J. Hicks, MD,
- Kathleen S. Beebe, MD,
- Kellie Leitch, MD,
- Kenneth Gundle, MD,
- Kimberly Templeton, MD,
- Lauren E. Geaney, MD,
- Lee Leddy, MD,
- Madhusudhan Yakkanti, MD,
- Mara Schenker, MD,
- Mary K. Mulcahey, MD,
- Matthew D. Beal, MD,
- Mauricio Kfuri, MD,
- Mel Harrington, MD,
- Michael D. Johnson, MD,
- Michael Hartman, MD,
- Monica Kogan, MD,
- Norman Turner, MD,
- Patrick Osborn, MD,
- Paul Dougherty, MD,
- Paul Tornetta, MD,
- Peter White, MD,
- Rajiv Rajani, MD,
- Randy Cohn, MD,
- Robert C. Decker, MD,
- Ryan D. Muchow, MD,
- Ryan Fitzgerald, MD,
- S. Elizabeth Ames, MD,
- Samir Mehta, MD,
- Scott E. Porter, MD,
- Selina Poon, MD,
- Shawn Gilbert, MD,
- Tessa Balach, MD,
- Thomas Scharschmidt, MD,
- William K. Payne, MD,
- William N. Levine, MD,
- Youssef M. Khalafallah, MD
Affiliations
- Stewart A. Bryant, MD
- 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Achraf H. Jardaly, MD
- 2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Brent A. Ponce, MD, FAOA
- 3 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Hughston Foundation, Columbus, Georgia
- S. Trent Guthrie, MD, FAOA
- 4 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Henry Ford Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan
- Harris Slone, MD, FAOA
- 5 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
- Jeremy R. Bruce, MD, FAOA
- 6 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Andrew W. Wilson, MS
- Charles Cody White, MD
- Afshin Razi, MD
- Amiethab Aiyer, MD
- Andrew Sobel, MD
- Anil B. Krishnamurthy, MD
- Ashley Rogerson, MD
- Benjamin Jackson, MD
- Brent M. Cone, MD
- Brian Scannell, MD
- Brock T. Wentz, MD
- Carl Paulino, MD
- Carol Lin, MD
- Charles J. Gatt, MD
- Charles Pasque, MD
- Craig Eberson, MD
- Daniel Wongworawat, MD
- Dawn LaPorte, MD
- Gabriella Ode, MD
- George Dyer, MD
- Gregory A. Vrabec, MD
- Gregory Grabowski, MD
- Gregory Vrabec, MD
- Haleh Badkoobehi, MD
- James Purtill, MD
- Jayson Brooks, MD
- Joel Klena, MD
- John Andrawis, MD
- Joseph M. Sewards, MD
- Joseph Weistroffer, MD
- Joshua Patt, MD
- Joshua Wright-Chisem, MD
- Justin J. Hicks, MD
- Kathleen S. Beebe, MD
- Kellie Leitch, MD
- Kenneth Gundle, MD
- Kimberly Templeton, MD
- Lauren E. Geaney, MD
- Lee Leddy, MD
- Madhusudhan Yakkanti, MD
- Mara Schenker, MD
- Mary K. Mulcahey, MD
- Matthew D. Beal, MD
- Mauricio Kfuri, MD
- Mel Harrington, MD
- Michael D. Johnson, MD
- Michael Hartman, MD
- Monica Kogan, MD
- Norman Turner, MD
- Patrick Osborn, MD
- Paul Dougherty, MD
- Paul Tornetta, MD
- Peter White, MD
- Rajiv Rajani, MD
- Randy Cohn, MD
- Robert C. Decker, MD
- Ryan D. Muchow, MD
- Ryan Fitzgerald, MD
- S. Elizabeth Ames, MD
- Samir Mehta, MD
- Scott E. Porter, MD
- Selina Poon, MD
- Shawn Gilbert, MD
- Tessa Balach, MD
- Thomas Scharschmidt, MD
- William K. Payne, MD
- William N. Levine, MD
- Youssef M. Khalafallah, MD
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.OA.22.00044
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 8,
no. 3
Abstract
Background:. Few evidence-based suggestions are available to help applicants and mentors improve reapplication outcomes. We sought to provide program directors' (PDs) perspectives on actionable steps to improve reapplicants' chances for a match. Methods:. The PDs were asked to rank positions unmatched applicants can pursue, steps these applicants can take for the next application cycle, and reasons why reapplicants do not match. Results:. Responses from 66 of 123 PDs were received (53.6% response rate). Obtaining new recommendation letters and rotating with orthopaedics were the highest 20 ranked steps unmatched applicants can take. No curriculum vitae (CV) improvement, poor interview, and poor letters of recommendation were the most important reasons hindering applicants from matching when reapplying. Conclusions:. Steps reapplicants could prioritize include obtaining new recommendation letters, rotating in orthopaedics, and producing new research items. CV strengthening and improving interview skills address the 2 main reasons why unmatched applicants failed in subsequent attempts. Level of Evidence:. Level IV
