title: Attributes of successful and unsuccessful female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery fellowship applicants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  : To evaluate qualifications of successful applicants to Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) fellowship programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  : A 55-point web-based survey was sent to 49 applicants participating in the 2008 FPMRS Match.
  
  
  RESULTS
  : The survey achieved a 59% response rate, with a total of 29 respondents. Regarding prematch educational preparations pursued by applicants, 11 of the 24 matched respondents (46%) trained at residencies that offered FPMRS fellowship training. About 19 matched applicants (19/21, 90%) and 2 unmatched applicants (2/5, 40%) received a letter of recommendation from a "nationally-known" female pelvic medicine surgeon. About 40% of matched and unmatched applicants authored at least one manuscript.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  : If these respondents are representative of all fellowship candidates in FPMRS match, then it would be expected that combined application costs for all candidates would be almost $350,000.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH; †Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO; ‡Department of Cardiovascular Outcomes Research, Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO; and §Saint Luke's Urogynecology, Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Kansas City, MO.
authors.forename: Tyler M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Muffly
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Penick
authors.forename: Fengming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Roger P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Richard F C
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Roberta E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Blandon