The maternal-fetal medicine fellowship match system: effectiveness at identifying successful clinician-investigators at 1 institution.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if rank position on the match list of a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) fellowship program predicted applicant academic success.


METHODS
The Thomas Jefferson University MFM fellowship program rank order lists and the results of the match were reviewed for 1991-2002. Evaluation of candidates includes an application, 3 letters of recommendation, curriculum vitae and interview upon invitation. Career success of graduated fellows was defined as MFM board certification, number of peer-reviewed publications and of Society for MFM (SMFM) abstract publications.


RESULTS
Applicants ranked higher tended to have more peer-reviewed publications per applicant (9.2 vs. 4.7 vs. 4.4, p = 0.5) and more abstracts presented at SMFM (7.6 vs. 8.0 vs. 3.8 p = 0.5) as compared to lower-ranked applicants. Ranked applicants had a higher probability of being MFM board certified (74 vs. 22%, p = 0.005), having more peer-reviewed publications (6.8 vs. 1.4, p = 0.005), and more abstracts (7.1 vs. 2.1, p < 0.0001) as compared to nonranked applicants.


CONCLUSIONS
MFM fellowship applicants who were ranked higher were more likely to publish as compared to lower-ranked applicants. Ranked applicants were more likely to publish and be MFM board certified as compared to nonranked applicants.
Berghella
Vincenzo
V
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, 834 Chestnut Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. vincenzo.berghella@jefferson.edu
Pelham
Jacquelyn
J
Sabogal
Juan Carlos
JC
Sciscione
Anthony
A
Tolosa
Jorge E
JE
Shah
Shailen
S
Wapner
Ronald J
RJ
D002568:Certification; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D010380:Peer Review; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D011642:Publications; D000078329:Workforce