Specialists of tomorrow: an umbrella review of evidence supporting criteria used in medical and surgical specialty training selection processes

Successful entrance into specialty training represents a pivotal stage in the careers of medical officers. Selection for entrance into specialty training programs may encompass criteria including research experience, regional exposure, clinical experience, professional achievements, diversity, equity and inclusion factors, and extracurricular activities. Despite multiple syntheses on the topic, the extent to which these individual criteria predict performance during training and practice remains unclear. The objective of this study are to robustly conclude, through an umbrella review of systematic reviews on the topic, which selection criteria used in the selection process for medical and surgical specialty training applicants best predict clinical performance during and after specialty training.