Impact of a Six-Year Integrated Thoracic Surgery Training Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin

Integrated cardiothoracic surgery match: Trends among applicants compared with other surgical subspecialties

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate trends, qualifications, race/ethnicity, and gender of applicants to integrated cardiothoracic (CT I-6) residency programs and compare them with other competitive surgical subspecialties.

METHODS

Data were collected from the National Residency Matching Program, Electronic Residency Application Service, and Association of American Medical Colleges for thoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurological surgery, otolaryngology (ENT), plastic surgery, and vascular surgery for 2010 t0 2020. Applicant gender, race/ethnicity, Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership, United States Medical Licensing Examination scores, research productivity, and graduation from a top-40 medical school were analyzed.

RESULTS

From 2010 to 2020, CT I-6 experienced growth in postgraduate year 1 positions (280.0%), total applicants (62.2%), and US senior applicants (59.2%). No growth in CT I-6 positions (38) or programs (29) occurred from 2016 to 2020. CT I-6 had the lowest match rates among total applicants (31.7%) and US seniors (41.0%) in 2020. CT I-6 had fewer female applicants compared with ENT (P < .001) and plastic surgery (P < .001), but more than orthopedic surgery (P < .001). Although most CT I-6 US applicants self-identified as White (75.0%), there were more Asian applicants compared with applicants for orthopedic surgery (P < .001), ENT (P < .001), plastic surgery (P < .001), and neurological surgery (P < .01). Matched applicants averaged the highest Step 2-Clinical Knowledge scores (255.1), AOA membership (48.5%), and graduation rates from top-40 medical schools (54.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite tremendous growth in positions, CT I-6 has consistently been the most difficult surgical subspecialty to match. CT I-6 has recently attracted an increasingly diverse applicant pool. For the 2019 to 2020 National Residency Matching Program Match Cycle, successful applicants had the highest Step 2-Clinical Knowledge scores, AOA membership rates, and graduation rates from a top-40 medical school among all surgical subspecialties examined.

Comparing Match Outcomes in a Surgical Subspecialty: Independent Versus Integrated Training Pathways

OBJECTIVE

In recent years, the Thoracic Surgery Match (TSM) has become increasingly competitive. The purpose of this study was to compare recent trends in application and match rates in the TSM by training pathway.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study of all applicants to Integrated and Independent pathways for Thoracic Surgery training (2008-2021). Chi square tests were used to elucidate temporal trends and make comparisons by training pathway.

SETTING

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited Thoracic Surgery training programs in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

1500 Independent and 1242 Integrated pathway applicants for Thoracic Surgery training.

RESULTS

From 2008 to 2021, the annual match rate decreased from 91% to 71% in the Independent pathway (p < 0.001). This was driven by a decrease in the number of training positions (130-101, 22% decrease) and increase in number of applicants (96-140, 46% increase). In the Integrated pathway, the annual match rate increased from 33% to 35% (p < 0.001) as did the number of training positions (3 to 46, 1430% increase) and applicants (9-129, 1333% increase). During each year, match rates in the Independent pathway exceeded those in the Integrated pathway (p < 0.001). U.S. Allopathic graduates had higher match rates than non-U.S. Allopathic graduates for both Integrated and Independent training pathways. The percentage of applicants in the Independent pathway matching at one of their top 3 choices decreased from 73% to 40% (p < 0.001). The percentage of Independent thoracic surgery training positions that went unmatched decreased from 28% to 2% (p < 0.001). This percentage was stable at an average of 1% in the Integrated pathway (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The TSM has become increasingly competitive for Independent pathway applicants and remains ultracompetitive for Integrated pathway applicants. More research is needed to understand disparities in match rates by Thoracic Surgery training pathway.

Traits of the current traditional pathway cardiothoracic surgery training pool: Results of a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

As new paradigms for cardiothoracic surgery training emerged in recent years, the traditional 2- or 3-year pathway has persisted as an option for trainees completing general surgery residencies. Although the applicant pool for 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery training programs has been superficially explored, little data exist characterizing those applicants to the traditional cardiothoracic surgery training pathway and the influence of 6-year integrated expansion on the traditional applicant pool.

METHODS

We reviewed materials from candidates applying to a single 2-year cardiothoracic surgery training program between 2015 and 2020. Descriptive and comparative analyses of multiple characteristics were performed over the years of the study.

RESULTS

During the years 2015 through 2020, we received 571 applications, accounting for 72% of the total National Residency Matching Program applicant pool. We saw no significant trends in numbers of peer-reviewed publications or presentations. There was a minimal year-to-year increase in number of first-authored posters, 2.04 in 2015 to 2.13 in 2020 (P = .008). Online publications, book chapters, and other publications were stable throughout the study period. Applicants consistently provided an average of 3.6 letters of recommendation, 1.9 from cardiothoracic surgery faculty. Mean in-service score percentiles were stable at the 54th percentile, whereas US Medical Licensing Examination scores increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite expansion of the 6-year integrated pathway to cardiothoracic surgery, we have seen no substantial year-to-year changes in attributes of traditional applicants. Our findings suggest that the cardiothoracic surgery applicant pool continues to be composed of a stable group of highly productive trainees. Future initiatives in candidate selection should emphasize interview strategies to highlight aspects of grit, emotional intelligence, and team dynamics.

First nationwide survey of US integrated 6-year cardiothoracic surgical residency program directors

OBJECTIVE

The recently implemented integrated 6-year (I-6) format represents a significant change in cardiothoracic surgical residency training. We report the results of the first nationwide survey assessing I-6 program directors' impressions of this new format.

METHODS

A 28-question web-based survey was distributed to program directors of all 24 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited I-6 training programs in November 2013. The response rate was a robust 67%.

RESULTS

Compared with graduates of traditional residencies, most I-6 program directors with enrolled residents believed that their graduates will be better trained (67%), be better prepared for new technological advances (67%), and have superior comprehension of cardiothoracic disease processes (83%). Just as with traditional program graduates, most respondents believed their I-6 graduates would be able to independently perform routine adult cardiac and general thoracic operations (75%) and were equivocal on whether additional specialty training (eg, minimally invasive, heart failure, aortic) was necessary. Most respondents did not believe that less general surgical training disadvantaged I-6 residents in terms of their career (83%); 67% of respondents would have chosen the I-6 format for themselves if given the choice. The greater challenges in training less mature and experienced trainees and vulnerability to attrition were noted as disadvantages of the I-6 format. Most respondents believed that I-6 programs represent a natural evolution toward improved residency training rather than a response to declining interest among medical school graduates.

CONCLUSIONS

High satisfaction rates with the I-6 format were prevalent among I-6 program directors. However, concerns with respect to training relatively less experienced, mature trainees were evident.

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case log: general surgery resident thoracic surgery experience

BACKGROUND

General surgery resident training has changed dramatically over the past 2 decades, with likely impact on specialty exposure. We sought to assess trends in general surgery resident exposure to thoracic surgery using the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case logs over time.

METHODS

The ACGME case logs for graduating general surgery residents were reviewed from academic year (AY) 1989-1990 to 2011-2012 for defined thoracic surgery cases. Data were divided into 5 eras of training for comparison: I, AY89 to 93; II, AY93 to 98; III, AY98 to 03; IV, AY03 to 08; V, AY08 to 12. We analyzed quantity and types of cases per time period. Student t tests compared averages among the time periods with significance at a p values less than 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 21,803,843 general surgery cases were reviewed over the 23-year period. Residents averaged 33.6 thoracic cases each in period I and 39.7 in period V. Thoracic cases accounted for nearly 4% of total cases performed annually (period I 3.7% [134,550 of 3,598,574]; period V 4.1% [167,957 of 4,077,939]). For the 3 most frequently performed procedures there was a statistically significant increase in thoracoscopic approach from period II to period V.

CONCLUSIONS

General surgery trainees today have the same volume of thoracic surgery exposure as their counterparts over the last 2 decades. This maintenance in caseload has occurred in spite of work-hour restrictions. However, general surgery graduates have a different thoracic surgery skill set at the end of their training, due to the predominance of minimally invasive techniques. Thoracic surgery educators should take into account these differences when training future cardiothoracic surgeons.

Emerging alternative model for cardiothoracic surgery training in India

BACKGROUND

In India, cardiothoracic (CT) surgery training follows a 3+3-year model, where 3 years of general surgery residency with certification (MS/DNB) is required for entering 3 years of thoracic surgery residency (MCh/DNB). There are two certifying boards at the national level. One being the Medical Council of India (MCI), which oversees the major accreditation process involving the undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in India, and the other being the National Board of Examinations (NBE), which was formed for the purpose of establishing a uniform standard of postgraduate medical education. Recently, the latter body has come up with an alternative model for thoracic surgery residency in India. This model includes an integrated 6-year residency, with lesser emphasis on general surgical skills and greater exposure to CT surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes to the current model of training for CT surgery is the need of the hour and should be initiated very soon by the MCI to meet the future demand for CT surgeons in India. An integrated training program is essential to create a new generation of cardiovascular specialists. Future directions to achieve this goal must include modifications to the undergraduate programs so as to infuse interest for CT surgery in the young minds of medical students.