In this post, we break down the average research items of successful residency applicants by specialty so that you know exactly what’s expected of you, depending on the medical path you choose.
That’s a massive difference. If you have your heart set on a specific specialty, it’s imperative that you do your research (pun intended) to see how best you can stand out to residency admissions committees.
Research Items by Medical Specialty
There are the average research items of medical students separated by specialty.
| Specialty (Ranked by 2024 Competitiveness) | Average Research Items |
|---|---|
| Dermatology | 27.7 |
| Neurosurgery | 37.4 |
| Plastic Surgery | 34.7 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 23.8 |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | 20.0 |
| Interventional Radiology | 15.8 |
| General Surgery | 10.9 |
| Diagnostic Radiology | 12.0 |
| Vascular Surgery | 12.8 |
| Anesthesiology | 9.0 |
| OB/GYN | 9.0 |
| Internal Medicine/Pediatrics (Med/Peds) | 6.9 |
| Radiation Oncology | 15.9 |
| PM&R | 8.6 |
| Internal Medicine | 8.7 |
| Child Neurology | 9.8 |
| Neurology | 8.8 |
| Pathology | 8.4 |
| Psychiatry | 7.5 |
| Emergency Medicine | 5.7 |
| Pediatrics | 6.9 |
| Family Medicine | 4.2 |
Are Research Items Increasing?
Yes, research items are increasing and continue to go up each year. That said, this increase could be minor or major depending on the specialty.
For example, the average research items of successful plastic surgery applicants was 19.1 in 2020, compared to 34.7 in 2024. That’s an increase of over 15 research items in only four years. This is significant considering how difficult each research item can be to achieve. Neurosurgery went from 23.4 in 2020 to 37.4 in 2024.
Even the least competitive specialties continue to see an increase in average research items from year to year, with family medicine moving from 3.3 in 2020 to 4.2, pediatrics from 4.9 to 6.9, and psychiatry from 5.6 to 7.5.
Let’s take a closer look at the data:
| Specialty (Ranked by 2024 Competitiveness) | Average Research Items in 2020 | Average Research Items in 2022 | Average Research Items in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dermatology | 19.0 | 20.9 | 27.7 |
| Neurosurgery | 23.4 | 25.5 | 37.4 |
| Plastic Surgery | 19.1 | 28.4 | 34.7 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 14.3 | 16.5 | 23.8 |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | 13.7 | 17.2 | 20.0 |
| Interventional Radiology | 10.3 | 12.2 | 15.8 |
| General Surgery | 7.1 | 8.6 | 10.9 |
| Diagnostic Radiology | 6.4 | 8.0 | 12.0 |
| Vascular Surgery | 10.5 | 12.4 | 12.8 |
| Anesthesiology | 5.2 | 6.6 | 9.0 |
| OB/GYN | 6.0 | 6.8 | 9.0 |
| Internal Medicine/Pediatrics (Med/Peds) | 4.8 | 6.5 | 6.9 |
| Radiation Oncology | 18.3 | 13.3 | 15.9 |
| PM&R | 5.5 | 6.2 | 8.6 |
| Internal Medicine | 6.2 | 6.9 | 8.7 |
| Child Neurology | 7.0 | 7.4 | 9.8 |
| Neurology | 7.2 | 7.8 | 8.8 |
| Pathology | 7.3 | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| Psychiatry | 5.6 | 6.2 | 7.5 |
| Emergency Medicine | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.7 |
| Pediatrics | 4.9 | 5.6 | 6.9 |
| Family Medicine | 3.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 |
As is clear from the year-to-year chart, in nearly every instance aside from radiation oncology, the number of research items you need to impress residency programs has increased, often dramatically.
Why Is Research So Important to Residency Programs?
Research items, consisting of publications, abstracts, and presentations, consistently play a huge role in a candidate’s ability to match into their desired program—no matter how competitive it is.
Research is a soft component that continues to differentiate residency candidates. What’s great for those who prioritize and invest in research is that it’s the only extracurricular that carries over. All publications from even before medical school count when you apply to residency.
And that’s how the team behind the research course earned over 60 research items each before graduating from medical school.
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We’ll show you how it’s done step by step so that you not only master research but also learn to enjoy it, too. Our course has over 75 video modules, templates and resources, as well as exclusive private community access to lift your research game to the highest possible level.
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