How Many Publications for Residency in 2025

by Alec Palmerton, MD in Residency

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Are you curious about how many publications you need for residency applications? Or maybe you’re wondering if having an MD/PhD boosts your matching chances. And what exactly counts as a publication on ERAS?

In this article, we’ll explore the critical role research plays in residency applications. We’ll break down how much research is needed to stand out, which specialties demand, and whether an MD/PhD really gives you an edge. Let’s break it down

Note: Updated with new data for 2025: This article now includes the latest insights from the 2024 Main Residency Match and the Program Director Survey

Table of Contents

How Many Publications for Residency: Specialty Averages

Trying to figure out how many publications you need for residency applications? Based on the 2024 Charting Outcomes in the Match reports, we can see the average number of abstracts, presentations, and publications for matched US seniors for each specialty.

Here is the same data in a table:

How Many Publications for Competitive Residencies?

The answer depends on the specialty you’re aiming for. Some of the most competitive specialties such as neurological surgery, plastic surgery, and dermatology expect a significant amount of publications. For example, applicants to neurosurgery had an average of 37 publications, presentations, and abstracts in the 2024 Match.

Here’s a quick look at the specialties with the highest average number of publications in 2024

• Neurological surgery (37.4 abstracts, presentations, and publications on average)
• Plastic surgery (34.7)
• Dermatology (27.7)
• Orthopaedic surgery 23.8)
• Otolaryngology (20)

What Counts as a Publication for Residency?

Note that the figures for “publications” for residency include much more. Specifically, you’ll have the chance to add things like presentations (oral or poster), case reports, and even abstracts. Thus, even students who fear they don’t have any research may have more than they think.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of what counts as a “publication” for residency application purposes:

• Published peer-reviewed journal articles
• Submitted/accepted journal articles that haven’t yet hit print
• Book chapters you authored/co-authored
• Presentations (oral/poster)
• Case reports

Note that there is no time limit on when the research was done to count as a publication for residency. Hence, that poster you presented for your undergraduate research counts.

Are there any gray areas for what counts as a publication for residency? In our view, gray areas are online publications that aren’t in peer-reviewed journals. Any online blog posts you wrote for your summer vacation? Definitely no. An article you wrote for a publication like your school’s magazine? Borderline, and likely would depend on the subject material.

In doubt about what counts as a publication for residency? Imagine sitting in front of an interviewer and having them ask about it. If you can imagine yourself responding with a straight face, then you’re probably in the clear.

What Counts as Research Experience for Residency?

You’ll note in the above figure that those matched in more competitive specialties tend to have more research experiences. While this is true, technically, any research you’ve ever done – including as an undergraduate or even a high schooler – counts as research experience for residency. Note that when you include these experiences, it will be fair game to discuss on your residency applications and interviews.

On your ERAS residency application, you’ll be asked the following questions:

• Experience Type: Research
• Organization: ______ Lab
• Position: (e.g., medical student researcher)
• Supervisor (if applicable): Dr. __________
• Location: (Country), (State), (City)
• Average hours/week: ________
• Description: (your description of your research, highlighting your contributions and how it fits into your overall “story”)
• Reason for leaving: (still working in lab vs. _______)

How Many Publications for Residency: Does an MD/PhD Help?

When considering the question of how many publications for residency, more is generally better. This is particularly true in the most competitive specialties. Given that, does having a PhD help even more?

Here is the data for the % of matched applicants who had a PhD degree in the 2024 Match.

Seeing the percentage of matched applicants with PhDs may make you wonder if a PhD is necessary to match in certain fields.

So, does an MD/PhD help with residency applications? From the above data, it is hard to tell. Clearly, some specialties have more PhDs in them. However, it may just mean that MD/PhDs are more attracted to some specialties over others.

For example, more than 21.4% of matched applicants in pathology in the 2024 Match had a PhD. Does that mean that the field of pathology favors MD/PhD candidates? Or that MD/PhDs favor pathology?

Want to know more about which residencies are most competitive in the NRMP Match? See this article.

PhD Match Rate Shows MD/PhDs May Have a Moderate Advantage

Instead, if we graph the match rate for PhDs vs. those without PhDs, a different story emerges. Specifically, we can see that all else being equal, there is perhaps a slight to moderate advantage to PhD applicants.

Note, though, that there is a clear advantage to having more research. Since MD/PhD programs allow for extra dedicated time to do research, it’s not obvious why PhDs have an advantage. Do the extra letters after their name help? Or is it just the extra time – and extra time to publish – that matters the most?

Having a PhD has a modest effect at most on whether people match into a given specialty.

Here is the same data in a table:

In the 2024 Match, we can see that there were 542 PhDs among applicants. The match rate for MD/PhDs was 92%; the overall match rate for US Seniors without a PhD was 90%. In other words, there was a 2% advantage in the overall match rate for US Seniors with a PhD than those without.

One other thing to note: while it may seem like in some specialties people have a huge advantage by having a PhD, a closer look reveals something different. For example, while the match rate was 20% lower for US seniors with a PhD in obstetrics and gynecology, only 18 applicants to obstetrics and gynecology were MD/PhDs. In other words, a single PhD who matched rather than didn’t match would have shifted the difference from a 20% disadvantage to a 15% advantage.

Similarly, for interventional radiology, which had a 17% advantage to match rate, we can see that only 3 applicants had a PhD that year. Every one of them matched. However, had only one of them not matched, the advantage would have shrunk from 17% to -16%.

Correlation ≠ Causation; PhDs Have More Time for Research

Again, let’s be clear. There appears to be a modest advantage to having a PhD for residency applications. However, it’s not clear whether this advantage is due to the PhD degree itself or simply the fact that PhDs generally have more publications. (Or something else entirely!).

We can conclude relatively confidently that having research is beneficial to residency applications, regardless of whether one has a PhD or not.

How Long Are MD/PhD Programs?

So, how long does an MD/PhD program typically take to complete? Generally, MD/PhD programs take eight years to complete—four years for the medical degree and four years for the PhD. The exact amount of time will depend on the individual student and their research topic. However, this completion time is highly variable. While the medical degree usually takes 3-4 years, the doctoral component varies widely based on the individual and his/her research topic. Some students may complete their doctoral program in two years, while others may take up to eight.

In addition to researching their chosen topic in the laboratory, students must complete the necessary degree requirements, such as coursework, a thesis, and a qualifying exam. These may add extra time to the overall completion of the program.

How Much Do MD/PhDs Make?

Are you curious about the earning potential of MD-PhDs? Generally, physician salaries depend on their specialty, practice setting, and experience – not just their degrees. MD-PhDs may be more likely to pursue research-based careers, which typically offer lower salaries than those in a clinical setting, particularly in private practice.

So, the answer to the question “How much do MD/PhDs make?” ultimately depends on these factors. However, MD-PhDs are highly sought-after for their unique skillset and academic background, often offering professional opportunities such as teaching and research roles with the potential for rewarding work.

Does Having an MPH or MBA Help With Matching?

Another question you may wonder is does an MPH help for residency applications? Here is the match rate for US seniors with other degrees (including MPH’s), and those without.

Here is the same data in a table:

Overall, we can see a 0.8% advantage to having another degree. Those US seniors with another degree had an 89.4% match rate; those without another degree had an 88.6% match rate.

Why an MPH or MBA Might Hurt Your Chances in the Competitive Specialties

Looking through the specialty-level data, a pattern emerges. In fact, competitive specialties are among the specialties with the greatest apparent disadvantage for other degree holders.

If true, why would an MPH or other degree hurt your chances for matching?

The biannual program director survey may have some clues. Recently released in 2024, it addresses what factors they used to interview and rank applicants to their programs. Here are the results:

Source: National Resident Matching Program, Data Release and Research Committee: Charting Outcomes: Program Director Survey Results, 2024 Main Residency Match

Notice that the eighth most commonly cited factor was “Perceived Commitment to Specialty,” with a mean importance score of 4.4 out of 5. I had a conversation with a Stanford general surgery resident once who said his program strongly disapproved of him getting an MBA during his residency. He said that the program thought it meant he was less committed to the specialty.

Stories like these, the program director survey results, as well as the match data for those with non-PhD degrees suggest that an MPH may not be your ticket to a better residency. In fact, it may open questions in the most competitive fields on your commitment to that field.

Concluding Thoughts

Research is essential for a successful residency application. The number of publications, abstracts, and presentations required by each specialty and individual program may vary. However, the most competitive residencies will demand the highest levels of research—quantity and quality.

Investing in research is key to standing out from the competition and increasing your chances of securing a place. Significant time and effort should be dedicated to producing publications, abstracts, and presentations that showcase your commitment to the specialty. Knowing how many publications are needed for residency will set you up for success.