To describe trends in the glaucoma fellowship match results, glaucoma applicant characteristics, and applicant characteristics associated with matching.
Retrospective study.
De-identified, individual applicant data provided by the San Francisco (SF) Match were used to describe glaucoma fellowship match trends and applicant characteristics between 2010 and 2017. Publicly available, conglomerate SF Match data were used to determine trends in the number of programs participating in the glaucoma fellowship match, as well as the number of positions offered and filled from 2014 to 2019. All trends analyses were performed using linear regression models on log-transformed response variables. Summary statistics for applicants who matched in glaucoma were compared to those who did not match using chi-squared tests for categorical variables and Wilcoxon-rank sum or Kruskal-Wallis tests for continuous variables. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate factors associated with matching in glaucoma fellowship.
Fellowship match status (matched in glaucoma versus did not match in any ophthalmology subspecialty) RESULTS: From 2010 to 2019, the number of matched glaucoma fellowship applicants increased from 54 to 77 (mean 3.3% per year, p=0.001), and the proportion of applicants to any ophthalmology fellowship who matched in glaucoma increased from 13% to 15.5% (mean 3% per year, p=0.041). Compared with applicants who did not match in any specialty between 2010 and 2017, matched glaucoma applicants were more likely to have graduated from a top 10 residency program (10.7% vs. 4.5%, p<0.001), U.S. medical school (93.1% vs. 39.1%, p<0.001), or U.S. residency program (95.0% vs. 42.2%, p<0.001), and complete more interviews (9 vs. 1, p<0.001). After controlling for potential covariates, factors associated with increased odds of matching into glaucoma included graduating from a US residency program (OR: 9.91, 95% CI: [5.45,18.03]), applying to fewer programs (OR: 0.91, 95% CI: [0.88,0.93]), and completing a greater number of interviews (OR: 1.49, [1.39,1.60]). USMLE Step scores were not associated with matching in glaucoma.
The number of applicants who matched into glaucoma fellowship increased from 2010 to 2019. Factors associated with matching into glaucoma were graduating from a U.S. residency program and completing more interviews.

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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