Thalamus Research

Reducing Over-Interviewing in the Anesthesiology Residency Match

Ephy R. Love, Franklin Dexter, Jason I. Reminick, Suzanne B. Karan

https://www.cureus.com/articles/66347-reducing-over-interviewing-in-the-anesthesiology-residency-match

Results:

For anesthesiology, the median residency program could reduce their interviews by 16.9% (97.5% confidence interval 8.5%-24.1%) supposing they would not invite applicants if the 99% upper prediction limit for the probability of matching was less than 10.0%. The corresponding median savings would be 0.80 interviews per matched spot (0.34-1.33). In doing so, the median program would sustain a risk of 5.3% (97.5% confidence interval 2.3%-7.9%) of having at least one interviewee removed from their final rank-to-match list.

Conclusion:

Using novel interview data and analyses, we demonstrate that residency programs can substantively reduce interviews with less effect on rank-to-match lists. The data-driven approach to manage marginal interviews allows program leadership to better weigh costs and benefits when composing their annual list of interviewees.

Interview Data Highlight Importance of “Same-State” on Anesthesiology Residency Match

Love, Ephy R. MS*; Dexter, Franklin MD, PhD, FASA†; Reminick, Jason I. MD, MBA, MS‡; Sanford, Joseph A. MD§; Karan, Suzanne MD, FASA‖

Anesthesia & Analgesia: January 2021 - Volume 132 - Issue 1 - p 223-230

https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Abstract/2021/01000/Interview_Data_Highlight_Importance_of.31.aspx

Results:

An interviewee living in the same state as the interviewing program could have 5.42 fewer total interviews (97.5% CI, 3.02–7.81) while having the same odds of matching. The same state effect had an equivalent value as an approximately 4.14 USMLE points-difference from the program’s mean (97.5% CI was 2.34–5.94 USMLE points). Addition of whether the interviewee belonged to an affiliated medical school did not significantly improve the model; same-state remained significant (P < .0001) while affiliated medical school was not (P = .40).

Conclusion:

Our analysis of anesthesiology residency recruitment using previously unstudied interview data shows that same-state locality is a viable predictor of residency matching and should be strongly considered when evaluating whether to interview an applicant.

Analysis of the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Application Process Using the Thalamus™ Database

Hutchison, Catherine E. MD; Reminick, Jason I. MD, MBA, MS; Love, Ephy R. PhD; Karan, Suzanne MD, FASA; Gundle, Kenneth R. MD

Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: April 28, 2022 - Volume - Issue - 10.5435/JAAOS-D-22-00006

Results:

Of the programs included in this study, 19 (41%) were strictly adherent to the UIOD and time, 14 (30%) were weakly adherent and sent out offers outside of the assigned time, and 13 (28%) were nonadherent and sent out offers on dates other than the UIOD. The average time to fill to 80% capacity was 26 ± 14 minutes (range 3 to 77 minutes) for the 33 programs that released on the UIOD. Applicants with edu e-mail domains scheduled their first interview an average of 1.8 minutes after those with com e-mail domains (14.8 versus 13.0 minutes, P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Despite more than 60% of the residency programs committing to participate, less than half of the programs that initially agreed to participate were strictly adherent to guidelines during the first UIOD in orthopaedic surgery. Although additional research is needed to analyze the unique, fully virtual 2020 to 2021 recruitment season, a phased or waved approach to the UIOD may improve the process for all stakeholders in future cycles.

Using Thalamus to Analyze the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Application Process: Are We Interviewing Appropriately?

Saunders Lin, Sanjay Krishnaswami, Jason I. Reminick, Ephy Love and Benedict C. Nwomeh

Pediatrics March 2021, 147 (3 MeetingAbstract) 924

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/147/3_MeetingAbstract/924/5878/Using-Thalamus-to-Analyze-the-Pediatric-Surgery

Results:

Our dataset included 34, 41, and 45 programs, which represented 75%, 91%, and 95% of all programs in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. For applicants, the difference between median number of interviews received versus completed were 0, +1, and +0.5. For programs, the difference between interviews offered versus completed was greater (+3, +2, +4). Median cancellations per program were 7 in 2018, 5 in 2019, and 3 in 2020, and the median amount of time from first interview scheduled to 80% full was 95.49, 43.32, and 44.13 minutes, respectively. We found an association between region of applicant and program interviewed (p<.001). As all programs offered only one position per interview cycle, a mean of 22 of 23 interviews (95.72%) per program do not result in a matched candidate.

Conclusion:

The vast majority of pediatric surgery fellowship interviews do not result in a successful match. Applicants, on average, attend all interviews offered, while programs offer more interviews than they complete. Next steps include creation of program-level performance data on scheduling, cancellations, and ideal applicant profiles to maximize the Pediatric Surgery interview process.