Pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus fellowship Match outcomes, 2000-2015

Purpose: To analyze trends in US pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus (PO&S) Match over the last 16 years.

Methods: We reviewed the PO&S Match outcomes from 2000 to 2015, evaluating the number of participating programs, positions offered, and match rate, comparing it with other subspecialties, and analyzing results of US graduates versus international medical graduates (IMGs). A survey of PO&S program directors explored exposure to PO&S, policies on acceptance of IMGs, fellowship gross salary, job opportunities, and fellow placement after training.

Results: The PO&S matching rate varied yearly but was consistently lower compared to other subspecialties. The supply of fellowship positions was always higher than the demand, with as annual average of 32% unmatched positions, ranging from a low of 12% in the year 2010 to a high of 52% unmatched positions in 2004. In 2013 to 2015, 31% (from 24% to 38%) of PO&S matched fellows were IMGs, which is significantly more compared to all other ophthalmic subspecialties combined during the same time period (mean, 15%; from 15% to 16%; P < 0.001) and a significant increase from the 3 years before (mean, 20%; from 12% to 26%; P = 0.041). Our survey revealed that academic and clinical exposure of residents to PO&S usually begins during the first year of residency (PGY2). Residents spend on average 16 weeks of their training in PO&S, often with more than one faculty member.

Conclusions: Interest in PO&S remains lower than other ophthalmology subspecialties despite an apparent national need for trained pediatric ophthalmologists.