Abstract
Background
The integrated plastic surgery residency match continues to be highly competitive. Every year, some candidates are former NCAA athletes. While it is challenging to balance academic and athletic responsibilities, participation in NCAA sports may be predictive of continued success.
Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of participation in collegiate athletics on applicant anticipated rank and academic success.
Methods
All applications received from 2017 to 2020 at a single institution were reviewed for participation in NCAA athletics (Division I-III). Our primary outcome of interest was applicant anticipated rank by letter of reference writers. Applications were also examined for demographic information, membership in AOA, number of research publications, and USMLE board certification examination scores.
Results
After reviewing 885 applications, 61 applicants (6.89%) were former NCAA athletes. Former NCAA involvement was associated with the highest effect on anticipated ranking (− 0.22, p=0.001). Former NCAA involvement demonstrated the highest odds of receiving an anticipated ranking in the top 5 (OR 1.83, p=0.025). We found no significant difference in research productivity between the two groups, including first authorships or USMLE Step 1 board certification exam scores. A significant difference was seen in race distribution, with forty-five (80.4%) of athlete applicants identifying as Caucasian, while 430 (56.5%) of non-athletes identified as Caucasian (p=0.012).
Conclusion
Former athletes applying to become integrated plastic surgery residents overcome the challenges of balancing athletic and academic pursuits with a higher anticipated rank in the integrated plastic surgery match while having comparable academic achievement. Former collegiate athletes have demonstrated greater success in and after residency. Former NCAA participation demonstrated the highest odds of receiving a top-5 rank. Former NCAA applicants showed no difference in academic productivity
Level of Evidence V
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board under protocol number 2020-0581.
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“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
– Pele (Brazilian Football Legend).
“In surgery, in life, in sports…the job is not supposed to be easy, but to win the commitment must be GID/GEI; e.g. Get It Done/Good Enough Isn’t.”
-J. William Futrell, M.D. (Plastic Surgery Legend and Former Duke Quarterback) [1].
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Shaffrey, E.C., Edalatpour, A., Nicksic, P.J. et al. Rise Above the Competition: How Do Plastic Surgery Residency Applicants with NCAA Experience Fare in the Residency Match?. Aesth Plast Surg 48, 1867–1873 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-023-03513-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-023-03513-w