Most Faculty Members at the Top Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Programs Trained at Many of the Same Programs

Shoulder and elbow surgery fellowship applicants with greater research productivity during residency are ranked higher by fellowship programs

BACKGROUND

Shoulder and elbow surgery fellowships in the United States are recognized for their academic emphasis, yet the correlation between an applicant's research productivity and fellowship match results remains unclear. This study (1) analyzed temporal trends in research productivity among matched fellowship applicants, (2) evaluated the influence of quantity of publications and first authorships on match positions, and (3) investigated program variations in research productivity.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of data from the San Francisco Match Database for shoulder and elbow surgery applicants matched between 2017 and 2024. Allopathic, osteopathic, and international medical graduates were included. PubMed was queried to quantify publications and first authorship before and during residency, analyzing their association with applicant and fellowship rank. Publication volumes per fellowship program were also calculated for institutions with at least 5 years of match data.

RESULTS

A total of 290 matched applicants were evaluated across 34 fellowship programs, comprising 229 allopathic, 29 osteopathic, and 32 international medical graduates. There was almost a five-fold increase in the average number of publications per applicant, from 2.72 ± 3.54 in 2017 to 12.80 ± 15.88 in 2024 (B 1.30; P = .001). Similarly, first authorship publication counts increased almost three-fold, from 1.31 ± 2.12 in 2017 to 3.66 ± 5.01 in 2024 (B = 0.29, P = .02). Fellowship program analysis revealed wide variation in mean publication counts of matched applicants (P = .008), with Rush University Medical Center (27.88 ± 33.86), Massachusetts General Hospital (13.65 ± 26.62), Mayo Clinic (13.06 ± 14.77), and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (12.19 ± 10.64) exhibiting the highest averages. Candidates with more publications (P = .04), first authorships(P = .02), and total first authorships (P = .04) during residency were ranked higher by fellowship programs. There was a significant correlation between greater publication count during residency and more favorable fellowship rank (-0.15, P = .02) and applicant match position (-0.12, P = .049). No significant associations were found between pre-residency publications (P = .38), total publications (P = .13), and pre-residency first authorships (P = .20) with fellowship rank positions.

CONCLUSION

Research productivity has increased substantially among matched applicants. The more academically productive residents tend to be ranked more favorably by fellowship programs and match higher on their list. However, these associations were relatively weak, highlighting the complexity of the fellowship selection process and the notion that research productivity alone does not guarantee placement in preferred programs.

Orthopedic Team Surgeons in Major Professional Sports: An Analysis of Affiliation With the Top 10 Sports Medicine Fellowship Programs and Implications for Leadership and Diversity

This paper examines the correlation between orthopedic team surgeons in major professional sports and their affiliation with the top 10 sports medicine fellowship programs. With a growing trend in post-residency fellowship training, particularly in sports medicine, the study focuses on the implications of fellowship program choice for aspiring major professional sports team physicians. By analyzing data from Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL), the research reveals that 61 of 124 (49.19%) team surgeons graduated from the top 10 sports medicine fellowship programs. The results identify a noticeable pipeline effect in professional sports, where teams often hire graduates from a select number of esteemed fellowship programs. The study suggests that choosing a fellowship program from the top 10 list may enhance the prospects of becoming a major league team surgeon. Additionally, our results found a significant gender disparity among team surgeons, with only two (1.6%) of all major professional team physicians being women. This emphasizes the imperative for diversity improvement in orthopedic sports medicine. In conclusion, the research underscores the impact of top-tier fellowship programs on professional team surgeons, with implications for aspiring sports medicine physicians and a call for addressing gender disparities.