Matching Trends for the Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Since Participation in the National Residency Match Program

Objective: To evaluate the level of interest in the fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (FMIGS) using data from the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) over the past 5 years. Design: Retrospective report (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting: Publicly reported data from the NRMP. Participants: Applicants using the NRMP to match into fellowship training. Interventions: Reporting matching trends for the gynecologic surgical subspecialty programs starting in 2014, when the FMIGS programs began participating in the NRMP. Measurements and Main Results: From 2014 to 2018, the number of FMIGS positions increased from 28 to 38. Over the 5 application cycles, the FMIGS programs had the highest ratio of applicants to positions overall (range. 1.7-2.0 for FMIGS) of the surgical gynecologic subspecialty programs analyzed (Gynecologic Oncology, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility). Conclusions: Since the FMIGS programs began participating in the NRMP in 2014, the FMIGS match has been highly competitive as a gynecologic surgical subspecialty, suggesting a high level of interest from residency graduates. This may reflect growing recognition that there is a body of knowledge unique to minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons.Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of AAGL.