Orthopedic surgery residency selection is increasingly prioritizing Step 2 CK scores and research productivity over Step 1 scores.
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May guide applicants to prioritize Step 2 CK and research; leaves open confirmation in prospective analyses.
This analysis of orthopedic surgery residency match data from 2016 to 2024 reveals increasing competitiveness, with a shift in focus from Step 1 scores to Step 2 CK and research productivity. U.S. osteopathic applicants continue to face challenges, but with strong academic performance and strategic applications, success remains attainable, prompting the need for further research into selection criteria and long-term outcomes.
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Gerhold et al. (2025) studied this question.
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