Current Trends in Pre-Residency Research Productivity Among Applicants Who Successfully Matched Into Top Anesthesiology Residency Programs

Background: Anesthesiology has become increasingly competitive with 3172 applicants for 1992 positions in the 2025 Match. While selection is holistic, research remains a key factor. Current Match data lacks detail on research output. This study analyzes temporal, gender, and geographic trends in publication volume among medical students who matched into the top 20 US anesthesiology programs. Methods: Using Doximity's rankings, we identified the top 20 anesthesiology programs. A total of 447 residents from the 2027 graduating class and 414 from the 2024 graduating class were able to be identified through program websites. Total, first author, second author, and anesthesiology-specific publications were collected using PubMed and Google Scholar. Gender, medical school region, and residency program region were also identified for analyses. Results: < .001). Conclusion: Research productivity increased between the graduating cohorts of 2024 and 2027, reflecting a growing emphasis on research among applicants to top anesthesiology programs. These may inform future applicants preparing for the Match.