Medical EducationORIGINAL ARTICLE

DO seniors and IMGs have lower match probabilities than MD seniors after adjusting for specialty choice and USMLE Step 1 score

Dhimitri A. Nikolla, DO, MS; Kaitlin M. Bowers, DO; Brittany Smith, BS; Christina L. Elsayed, BS; Abigail Daniels, MS; Thomas Sandoval, BS; Kyle J. Hitchman, BS; Irtaza Asar, DO; Dillon C. Kolacz, MD; and Vishnu Mudrakola, DO
Notes and Affiliations
Notes and Affiliations

Received: June 26, 2023

Accepted: March 7, 2024

Published: April 15, 2024

  • Dhimitri A. Nikolla, DO, MS, 

    Research Director and Core Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Erie, PA, USA

  • Kaitlin M. Bowers, DO, 

    Adjunct Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell University, Lillington, NC, USA

  • Brittany Smith, BS, 

    Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell University, Lillington, NC, USA

  • Christina L. Elsayed, BS, 

    Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell University, Lillington, NC, USA

  • Abigail Daniels, MS, 

    Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell University, Lillington, NC, USA

  • Thomas Sandoval, BS, 

    Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell University, Lillington, NC, USA

  • Kyle J. Hitchman, BS, 

    Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell University, Lillington, NC, USA

  • Irtaza Asar, DO, 

    Core Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Erie, PA, USA

  • Dillon C. Kolacz, MD, 

    Resident, Department of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Erie, PA, USA

  • Vishnu Mudrakola, DO, 

    Research Director and Core Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine, Summa Health, Akron, OH, USA

Abstract

Context: It is unknown if US residency applicants of different educational backgrounds (US allopathic [MD], Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine [DO], and international medical graduates [IMG]) but comparable academic performance have similar match success.

Objectives: Our objective was to compare match probabilities between applicant types after adjusting for specialty choice and United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 scores.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of published data in National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) reports from 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 for US MD seniors, DO seniors, and IMGs (US citizens and non-US citizens). We examined the 10 specialties with the most available spots in 2022. Average marginal effects from a multiple variable logistic regression model were utilized to estimate each non-MD senior applicant type’s probability of matching into their preferred specialty compared to MD seniors adjusting for specialty choice, Step 1 score, and match year.

Results: Each non-MD applicant type had a lower adjusted percent difference in matching to their preferred specialty than MD seniors, −7.1 % (95 % confidence interval [CI], −11.3 to −2.9) for DO seniors, −45.6 % (−50.6 to −40.5) for US IMGs, and −56.6 % (−61.5 to −51.6) for non-US IMGs. Similarly, each non-MD applicant type had a lower adjusted percent difference in matching than MD seniors across almost all Step 1 score ranges, except for DO seniors with Step 1 scores <200 (−2.0 % [−9.5 to 5.5]).

Conclusions: After adjusting for specialty choice, Step 1 score, and match year, non-US MD applicants had lower probabilities of matching into their preferred specialties than their US MD colleagues.

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