Quality Versus Quantity: Using Scholarly Activity to Assess Otolaryngology Residency Candidates.

Selecting qualified candidates each year for residency positions has become more difficult in recent years, due to the sharp increase in Otolaryngology applicants. Although there are objective measures that can be used to directly compare medical students during the initial screening process, most information in the application is highly subjective and/or variable across institutions. Many programs count the total posters/presentations and publications to gauge scholarship. This measure of quantity may lead to negative bias toward those who have no home program, limited time outside of academics, and/or inadequate resources to engage in volunteer research. Evaluating the quality of research may be superior to quantity. A first-author publication is a viable proxy that demonstrates applicants have developed skills that set them apart from their peers. They likely possess non-clinical, translatable skills including internal motivation, self-regulation, curation of information, and task completion that map closely with qualities that make for excellent residents.

Examining the Otolaryngology Match and Relationships Between Publications and Institutional Rankings.

This study examines associations among publication number, National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding rank, medical school research rank, and otolaryngology department ranks of otolaryngology applicants during the 2018-2019 match cycle. Information regarding 2018-2019 otolaryngology applicants was collected from Otomatch.com and verified via department websites. Information was also collected regarding 2018 NIH funding rank and 2020 US News & World Report research rank of medical schools and otolaryngology departments. T tests and chi-square analyses were performed. Top 40 NIH funding rank, top 40 medical school research rank, and home institution department rank were separately associated with more publications and higher rates of matching into highly reputed otolaryngology departments (all P < .01). Furthermore, applicants who matched into ranked otolaryngology departments averaged significantly more publications (P < .01). Prospective otolaryngology applicants should take into account NIH funding rank, medical school research rank, and otolaryngology department rank, as they are associated with matching into high-ranking institutions.