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Review
. 2025 Apr 18;10(2):e24.00207.
doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.24.00207. eCollection 2025 Apr-Jun.

Orthopaedic Fellowship Match: How Do Degree and Gender Type Affect Match Success?

Kenneth B Choy  1   2   3 , Lisa K Cannada  4 , Scott Steinmann  5 , Randy M Cohn  1   2   3 , Adam Bitterman  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Orthopaedic Fellowship Match: How Do Degree and Gender Type Affect Match Success?

Kenneth B Choy et al. JB JS Open Access. .

Abstract

Introduction: Discrepancies have previously been identified in terms of gender and medical degree throughout orthopaedic education. The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in the degree type and gender of applicants to orthopaedic trauma, sports medicine, adult reconstruction, foot and ankle, shoulder and elbow, and pediatric fellowships.

Methods: Official San Francisco match data from 2012 to 2023 were obtained. Data regarding the number of applicants, match rates, and rank list position based on applicant degree and gender were evaluated.

Results: The match rate for female applicants increased from a low of 81% (45/56) in 2013 to a high of 99% (94/95) in 2021 (mean 90% ± 6%), with a significant increase over the study period (r = 0.59, p = 0.02). For male applicants, the match rate ranged from a low of 85% (416/488) in 2013 to a high of 96% (515/536) in 2021 (mean 90% ± 4%), with a significant increase (r = 0.91, p = 0.000007). The match rate for osteopathic applicants increased from 63% (46/73) in 2013 to 94% (84/89) in 2021 (mean 82% ± 8%). There was a statistically significant increase in the match rate of osteopathic applicants over the study period (r = 0.75, p = 0.002). The match rate for allopathic applicants ranged from a low of 86% (405/471) in 2013 to a high of 96% (522/542) in 2021 (mean 91% ± 3%). There was a statistically significant increase in the match rate of allopathic applicants over the study period (r = 0.72, p = 0.003).

Conclusions: Overall, male and female applicants match at equal rates for the orthopaedic fellowship. Osteopathic graduates are less likely to match than allopathic graduates.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSOA/A786).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Bar graph representing the total number of applicants per year by specialty.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bar graph representing the number of osteopathic applicants per year by specialty.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Bar graph representing the number of allopathic applicants per year by specialty.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Bar graph representing the number of female applicants per year by specialty.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Bar graph representing the number of male applicants per year by specialty.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Line graph representing the match rate (%) per year for female applicants.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Line graph representing the match rate (%) per year for male applicants.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Line graph representing the match rate (%) per year for osteopathic applicants.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Line graph representing the match rate (%) per year for allopathic applicants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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