Authors: Holloway J et al.
Anesthesia & Analgesia, February 9, 2026, 10.1213/ANE.0000000000007977
This single-program retrospective study examined how research involvement among anesthesiology residency applicants correlates with the likelihood of being ranked-to-match and how portfolio characteristics vary by applicant background.
The investigators analyzed applications from interviewed US-MD and US-DO applicants and categorized research experiences in detail, including peer-reviewed publications and anesthesiology-specific work. The primary outcome was association between research experience and being ranked-to-match.
Key Findings
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Any research experience
Applicants with at least one research experience had more than twice the odds of being ranked-to-match compared with those without research (OR 2.16, P < .001). -
Peer-reviewed publications
Applicants with at least one peer-reviewed publication had increased odds of ranked-to-match (OR 2.25, P < .001). -
Anesthesiology-specific research
At least one anesthesiology-related research experience was associated with higher odds of ranked-to-match (OR 1.76, P < .001). -
Degree type differences
US-MD applicants were significantly more likely than US-DO applicants to report at least one research experience (P < .001). -
Institutional affiliation
Applicants from medical schools affiliated with an anesthesiology residency program were more likely to report research experience than those from unaffiliated schools (P < .001). -
Step 1 Pass/Fail era
Applicants from the Pass/Fail USMLE Step 1 era were more likely to report at least one research experience compared with those from the scored Step 1 era (P < .001), suggesting applicants may be compensating for loss of numeric differentiation with research output.
Interpretation
This study reinforces what many program directors suspect: research experience—particularly peer-reviewed and anesthesia-related work—is associated with improved competitive positioning.
However, several nuances are important:
• The study measured association with ranked-to-match, not actual match outcomes across programs nationally.
• It reflects a single institution’s selection environment.
• Research productivity may function both as a marker of motivation and as a proxy for institutional opportunity.
The affiliation findings are particularly noteworthy. Applicants from schools with anesthesiology residency programs have built-in research access, mentorship, and exposure advantages. Likewise, the MD vs DO difference likely reflects structural opportunity rather than ability.
The Step 1 Pass/Fail observation suggests a shifting equilibrium in application strategy: when test score differentiation decreases, research becomes a more visible competitive signal.
Key Points
• Any research experience roughly doubles odds of being ranked-to-match at the program studied.
• Peer-reviewed publications show similar magnitude association.
• Anesthesiology-specific research confers additional advantage.
• US-MD and residency-affiliated schools are associated with greater research reporting.
• Post–Step 1 Pass/Fail applicants report more research experiences.
What You Should Know
For academic anesthesia programs, this study suggests that research remains a meaningful selection differentiator, especially in the evolving Pass/Fail era.
For applicants without home-program affiliation or structured research access, this may create structural inequities.
From a program leadership perspective, this paper supports deliberate reflection on:
• How heavily research is weighted relative to clinical attributes
• Whether review processes unintentionally favor access over merit
• Transparent communication to applicants regarding expectations
In the broader anesthesia workforce context—particularly given your experience with staffing models and academic-community balance—this trend underscores increasing academic pressure in residency entry, even as many graduates ultimately practice outside research-intensive environments.
Thank you to Anesthesia & Analgesia for allowing us to summarize and share this article.