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Plastic Surgery Programs With the Most Publications, MD-PhDs, AOA, and Gold Humanism

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by Yousmle Staff in Publications

Are you looking to get into the plastic surgery residency program of your dreams? We’ve got you covered! Here, we’ll give you the inside scoop on which plastic surgery programs have the highest and lowest publications, MD-PhDs, AOA, and Gold Humanism members among matched applicants. So, if you’re curious about plastic surgery or have a specific program in mind, you can learn all the details you need to maximize your chances of becoming a plastic surgeon.

Which Plastic Surgery Residency Programs Require the Most Research?

As discussed previously, matched plastic surgery applicants have some of the highest numbers of abstracts, presentations, and publications.

But how many publications are expected of each plastic surgery residency? Here, we’ll discuss which programs have the most – and fewest – publications among their residents. That way, you can make an informed decision and feel hopeful about getting into the program that’s right for you.

Let’s look at which plastic surgery residency programs have the most – and least – publications among their members. (NOTE: the data here report the Average number of peer-reviewed publications among matched applicants. This is more narrow – and restrictive – than the “abstracts, presentations, and publications,” measure found on ERAS and reported by the Charting Outcomes in the Match reports.)

Residency program nameCityStateAverage number of peer-reviewed publications among matched applicantsAverage number of research experiences among matched applicants# current residents who were graduates of joint MD-PhD program% current residents who were graduates of MD-PhD programs% matched applicants members of Alpha Omega Alpha (at the time of application)% matched applicants members of Gold Humanism Honor Society (at the time of application)Program curriculum includes a dedicated research rotation% completed residents with non-academic U.S. practice career plans% completed residents with plans to continue training in another program% completed residents with plans to obtain a full-time or part-time academic position% completed residents with other career plansTotal # Residents on Duty
University of South Florida Morsani ProgramTampaFL890%3020NA00831724
Duke University Hospital ProgramDurhamNC7150%5313REQ01000018
University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals ProgramGalvestonTX7100%2525OPT2550131323
Emory University School of Medicine ProgramAtlantaGA6110%4010NA33006712
University of Chicago ProgramChicagoIL6100%4314REQ01000017
Rutgers Health/New Jersey Medical School ProgramNewarkNJ660%500NA20800017
New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia and Cornell Campus) ProgramNew YorkNY6120%4020NA33670012
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ProgramNew YorkNY6120%477NA060202018
Albany Medical Center ProgramAlbanyNY650%4020REQ50500012
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ProgramDallasTX6130%5523NA145729024
Baylor College of Medicine ProgramHoustonTX6160%337OPT33670018
University of Washington ProgramSeattleWA61014%3310NA500133825
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics ProgramMadisonWI670%4727REQ503301718
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell ProgramNew Hyde ParkNY51317%388NA25750014
NYU Grossman School of Medicine ProgramNew YorkNY52815%4417NA01000020
Wake Forest University School of Medicine ProgramWinston-SalemNC512214%420REQ75025014
Cleveland Clinic Foundation ProgramClevelandOH5140%2713REQ204004025
Ohio State University Hospital ProgramColumbusOH51616%4321REQ33670018
UPMC Medical Education ProgramPittsburghPA5270%43717
University of Utah Health ProgramSalt Lake CityUT59111%5020REQ0100009
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System ProgramRichmondVA560%2030REQ01000011
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University ProgramBronxNY490%180NA50500013
Oregon Health & Science University ProgramPortlandOR4130%3823REQ60400017
University of Pennsylvania Health System ProgramPhiladelphiaPA4200%27718
University of Alabama Hospital ProgramBirminghamAL0%2
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science ProgramJacksonvilleFL#DIV/0!REQ0
University of Miami/Jackson Health System ProgramMiamiFL0%NA05050010
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago ProgramChicagoIL#DIV/0!OPT0
Loyola University Medical Center ProgramMaywoodIL0%NA1000006
Dartmouth-Hitchcock/Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital ProgramLebanonNH0%NA5
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University/Cooper University Hospital ProgramCamdenNJ0%REQ5
University of New Mexico School of Medicine ProgramAlbuquerqueNM0%REQ0100006
University of Rochester ProgramRochesterNY0%OPT40600012
Nassau University Medical Center/Stony Brook University ProgramGarden CityNY0%NA0100006
University of North Carolina Hospitals ProgramChapel HillNC0%NA10000012
Wright State University ProgramDaytonOH0%REQ0505008
University of Cincinnati Medical Center/College of Medicine ProgramCincinnatiOH0%NA0100006
Lehigh Valley Health Network/University of South Florida College of Medicine ProgramAllentownPA0%NA0500506
Geisinger Health System ProgramDanvillePA0%REQ4
Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center ProgramHersheyPA0%OPT01000012
Brown University ProgramProvidenceRI0%OPT01000012
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine ProgramCharlestonSC0%NA6
Prisma Health/University of South Carolina SOM Columbia (Columbia) ProgramColumbiaSC0%REQ6
Vanderbilt University Medical Center ProgramNashvilleTN0%OPT6
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ProgramHoustonTX#DIV/0!0
Texas A&M College of Medicine-Scott and White Medical Center (Temple) ProgramTempleTX0%REQ25750012
Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine ProgramRoanokeVA0%OPT03367012
Eastern Virginia Medical School ProgramNorfolkVA0%OPT2
University of Virginia Medical Center ProgramCharlottesvilleVA0%REQ00010010
West Virginia University School of Medicine ProgramMorgantownWV0%OPT6
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals ProgramMilwaukeeWI0%NA75250012
What Are the Most Research-Heavy Plastic Surgery Programs?

Here are the plastic surgery programs with the highest average publications among matched applicants:

  • University of South Florida Morsani Program (8 publications on average)
  • Duke University Hospital Program (7 publications on average)
  • University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals Program (7 publications on average)
  • Emory University School of Medicine Program (6 publications on average)
  • Ten programs with 6 average publication
What Are the Least Research-Heavy Plastic Surgery Programs?

Here are the plastic surgery programs with the lowest average publications among matched applicants:

  • Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Program (5 publications on average)
  • Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University Program (4 publications on average)
  • Eight programs with 5 publication
  • Three programs with 4 average publications

Which Plastic Surgery Residency Programs Have the Most MD-PhDs?

Are you hoping to get into a plastic surgery residency program? Having an MD-PhD may help you stand out, but it’s not always necessary.

As noted previously, having an MD-PhD is associated with an increased likelihood of matching into plastic surgery as a specialty. Note that this is a relatively moderate advantage (~13% match rate increase for those with a PhD vs. those without).

Check out this list of plastic surgery residency programs in the US and their MD-PhD percentages.

Residency program nameCityState% current residents who were graduates of MD-PhD programs# current residents who were graduates of joint MD-PhD programAverage number of peer-reviewed publications among matched applicantsAverage number of research experiences among matched applicants% matched applicants members of Alpha Omega Alpha (at the time of application)% matched applicants members of Gold Humanism Honor Society (at the time of application)Program curriculum includes a dedicated research rotation% completed residents with non-academic U.S. practice career plans% completed residents with plans to continue training in another program% completed residents with plans to obtain a full-time or part-time academic position% completed residents with other career plansTotal # Residents on Duty
Wake Forest University School of Medicine ProgramWinston-SalemNC14%2512420REQ75025014
University of Utah Health ProgramSalt Lake CityUT11%1595020REQ0100009
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell ProgramNew Hyde ParkNY7%1513388NA25750014
Ohio State University Hospital ProgramColumbusOH6%15164321REQ33670018
NYU Grossman School of Medicine ProgramNew YorkNY5%15284417NA01000020
University of Washington ProgramSeattleWA4%16103310NA500133825
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science ProgramJacksonvilleFL0%REQ0
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago ProgramChicagoIL0%OPT0
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ProgramHoustonTX0%0
University of Alabama Hospital ProgramBirminghamAL0%2
University of Miami/Jackson Health System ProgramMiamiFL0%NA05050010
University of South Florida Morsani ProgramTampaFL0%893020NA00831724
Emory University School of Medicine ProgramAtlantaGA0%6114010NA33006712
University of Chicago ProgramChicagoIL0%6104314REQ01000017
Loyola University Medical Center ProgramMaywoodIL0%NA1000006
Dartmouth-Hitchcock/Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital ProgramLebanonNH0%NA5
Rutgers Health/New Jersey Medical School ProgramNewarkNJ0%66500NA20800017
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University/Cooper University Hospital ProgramCamdenNJ0%REQ5
University of New Mexico School of Medicine ProgramAlbuquerqueNM0%REQ0100006
University of Rochester ProgramRochesterNY0%OPT40600012
New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia and Cornell Campus) ProgramNew YorkNY0%6124020NA33670012
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ProgramNew YorkNY0%612477NA060202018
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University ProgramBronxNY0%49180NA50500013
Nassau University Medical Center/Stony Brook University ProgramGarden CityNY0%NA0100006
Albany Medical Center ProgramAlbanyNY0%654020REQ50500012
Duke University Hospital ProgramDurhamNC0%7155313REQ01000018
University of North Carolina Hospitals ProgramChapel HillNC0%NA10000012
Wright State University ProgramDaytonOH0%REQ0505008
Cleveland Clinic Foundation ProgramClevelandOH0%5142713REQ204004025
University of Cincinnati Medical Center/College of Medicine ProgramCincinnatiOH0%NA0100006
Oregon Health & Science University ProgramPortlandOR0%4133823REQ60400017
University of Pennsylvania Health System ProgramPhiladelphiaPA0%42027718
Lehigh Valley Health Network/University of South Florida College of Medicine ProgramAllentownPA0%NA0500506
Geisinger Health System ProgramDanvillePA0%REQ4
Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center ProgramHersheyPA0%OPT01000012
UPMC Medical Education ProgramPittsburghPA0%52743717
Brown University ProgramProvidenceRI0%OPT01000012
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine ProgramCharlestonSC0%NA6
Prisma Health/University of South Carolina SOM Columbia (Columbia) ProgramColumbiaSC0%REQ6
Vanderbilt University Medical Center ProgramNashvilleTN0%OPT6
University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals ProgramGalvestonTX0%7102525OPT2550131323
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ProgramDallasTX0%6135523NA145729024
Texas A&M College of Medicine-Scott and White Medical Center (Temple) ProgramTempleTX0%REQ25750012
Baylor College of Medicine ProgramHoustonTX0%616337OPT33670018
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System ProgramRichmondVA0%562030REQ01000011
Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine ProgramRoanokeVA0%OPT03367012
Eastern Virginia Medical School ProgramNorfolkVA0%OPT2
University of Virginia Medical Center ProgramCharlottesvilleVA0%REQ00010010
West Virginia University School of Medicine ProgramMorgantownWV0%OPT6
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics ProgramMadisonWI0%674727REQ503301718
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals ProgramMilwaukeeWI0%NA75250012

Plastic Surgery Programs with the Highest Percentage of MD-PhDs

Here are the plastic surgery programs with the highest reported % of residents who were graduates of MD-PhD programs:

  • Wake Forest University School of Medicine Program (14%)
  • University of Utah Health Program (11%)
  • Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Program (7%)
  • Ohio State University Hospital Program (6%)
  • NYU Grossman School of Medicine Program (5%)
  • University of Washington Program (4%)

Plastic Surgery Programs with the Lowest Percentage of MD-PhDs

While having an MD-PhD can give you a leg up on matching into plastic surgery, note that there are many (many) programs without an MD-PhD among their residents. In fact, there were only 6 programs that reported having any graduates from MD-PhD programs.

Which Plastic Surgery Programs Have the Most AOA and Gold Humanism Honor Society Members?

Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) and Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) memberships are two important factors in the plastic surgery residency matching process. AOA recognizes students and residents who excel academically, in leadership, and in professionalism, while GHHS recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional qualities in patient-centered care and humanism.

As noted before, AOA membership is associated with an increased likelihood of matching into plastic surgery.

Here we list the US plastic surgery residency programs and the % of their residents who were AOA or GHHS members. Note you can search for individual programs, sort the data, and many other useful things in your plastic surgery residency search.

Residency program nameCityState% matched applicants members of Alpha Omega Alpha (at the time of application)% matched applicants members of Gold Humanism Honor Society (at the time of application)# current residents who were graduates of joint MD-PhD program% current residents who were graduates of MD-PhD programsAverage number of peer-reviewed publications among matched applicantsAverage number of research experiences among matched applicantsProgram curriculum includes a dedicated research rotation% completed residents with non-academic U.S. practice career plans% completed residents with plans to continue training in another program% completed residents with plans to obtain a full-time or part-time academic position% completed residents with other career plansTotal # Residents on Duty
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ProgramDallasTX55230%613NA145729024
Duke University Hospital ProgramDurhamNC53130%715REQ01000018
Rutgers Health/New Jersey Medical School ProgramNewarkNJ5000%66NA20800017
University of Utah Health ProgramSalt Lake CityUT5020111%59REQ0100009
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ProgramNew YorkNY4770%612NA060202018
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics ProgramMadisonWI47270%67REQ503301718
NYU Grossman School of Medicine ProgramNew YorkNY441715%528NA01000020
University of Chicago ProgramChicagoIL43140%610REQ01000017
Ohio State University Hospital ProgramColumbusOH432116%516REQ33670018
UPMC Medical Education ProgramPittsburghPA4370%52717
Wake Forest University School of Medicine ProgramWinston-SalemNC420214%512REQ75025014
Emory University School of Medicine ProgramAtlantaGA40100%611NA33006712
New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia and Cornell Campus) ProgramNew YorkNY40200%612NA33670012
Albany Medical Center ProgramAlbanyNY40200%65REQ50500012
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell ProgramNew Hyde ParkNY38817%513NA25750014
Oregon Health & Science University ProgramPortlandOR38230%413REQ60400017
Baylor College of Medicine ProgramHoustonTX3370%616OPT33670018
University of Washington ProgramSeattleWA331014%610NA500133825
University of South Florida Morsani ProgramTampaFL30200%89NA00831724
Cleveland Clinic Foundation ProgramClevelandOH27130%514REQ204004025
University of Pennsylvania Health System ProgramPhiladelphiaPA2770%42018
University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals ProgramGalvestonTX25250%710OPT2550131323
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System ProgramRichmondVA20300%56REQ01000011
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University ProgramBronxNY1800%49NA50500013
University of Alabama Hospital ProgramBirminghamAL0%2
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science ProgramJacksonvilleFL#DIV/0!REQ0
University of Miami/Jackson Health System ProgramMiamiFL0%NA05050010
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago ProgramChicagoIL#DIV/0!OPT0
Loyola University Medical Center ProgramMaywoodIL0%NA1000006
Dartmouth-Hitchcock/Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital ProgramLebanonNH0%NA5
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University/Cooper University Hospital ProgramCamdenNJ0%REQ5
University of New Mexico School of Medicine ProgramAlbuquerqueNM0%REQ0100006
University of Rochester ProgramRochesterNY0%OPT40600012
Nassau University Medical Center/Stony Brook University ProgramGarden CityNY0%NA0100006
University of North Carolina Hospitals ProgramChapel HillNC0%NA10000012
Wright State University ProgramDaytonOH0%REQ0505008
University of Cincinnati Medical Center/College of Medicine ProgramCincinnatiOH0%NA0100006
Lehigh Valley Health Network/University of South Florida College of Medicine ProgramAllentownPA0%NA0500506
Geisinger Health System ProgramDanvillePA0%REQ4
Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center ProgramHersheyPA0%OPT01000012
Brown University ProgramProvidenceRI0%OPT01000012
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine ProgramCharlestonSC0%NA6
Prisma Health/University of South Carolina SOM Columbia (Columbia) ProgramColumbiaSC0%REQ6
Vanderbilt University Medical Center ProgramNashvilleTN0%OPT6
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ProgramHoustonTX#DIV/0!0
Texas A&M College of Medicine-Scott and White Medical Center (Temple) ProgramTempleTX0%REQ25750012
Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine ProgramRoanokeVA0%OPT03367012
Eastern Virginia Medical School ProgramNorfolkVA0%OPT2
University of Virginia Medical Center ProgramCharlottesvilleVA0%REQ00010010
West Virginia University School of Medicine ProgramMorgantownWV0%OPT6
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals ProgramMilwaukeeWI0%NA75250012
Plastic Surgery Programs with the Most and Least AOA and GHHS Members

The plastic surgery residency programs with the highest reported percentage of AOA members are:

  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Program
  • Duke University Hospital Program
  • Rutgers Health/New Jersey Medical School Program
  • University of Utah Health Program
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Program
  • University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Program
  • NYU Grossman School of Medicine Program

The plastic surgery residency programs with the lowest reported percentage of AOA members are:

  • Cleveland Clinic Foundation Program
  • University of Pennsylvania Health System Program
  • University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals Program
  • Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Program
  • Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University Program
Are AOA Numbers Artificially Low in the Most Competitive Plastic Surgery Residency Programs?

As we can see above, while AOA and GHHS membership can be beneficial, it’s not necessarily a critical factor in being accepted into a plastic surgery residency program.

For example, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Program only had 27% of its residents with AOA membership and only 13% with GHHS membership.

So, why might some of the most competitive plastic surgery residency programs have fewer AOA and GHHS members? One potential explanation is that some of the most prestigious medical schools don’t have AOA chapters. For example, the medical schools at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and UCSF all lack AOA chapters.

Ultimately, it’s essential to remember that AOA and GHHS membership can be important factors in getting accepted into a plastic surgery residency program. However, they’re not the only ones. There are plenty of other ways to make your application stand out, such as having strong USMLE scores, letters of recommendation, and a well-crafted personal statement.

Concluding Thoughts

Publications; AOA and GHHS membership; and having a PhD can all benefit an application into plastic surgery. However, as we can see, different plastic surgery residency programs have different expectations as to what they are looking for in applicants.

Want FREE Cardiology Flashcards?

Cardiology is key for impressive USMLE scores. Master cardiology from a Harvard-trained anesthesiologist who scored USMLE 270 with these 130+ high-yield flash cards. You’ll be begging for cardio questions - even if vitals make you queasy.

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