title: The maternal-fetal medicine fellowship match system: effectiveness at identifying successful clinician-investigators at 1 institution.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berghella
authors.forename: Jacquelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pelham
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sabogal
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciscione
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tolosa
authors.forename: Shailen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wapner
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D010380:Peer Review; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D011642:Publications; D000078329:Workforce