Residency Signaling in Otolaryngology: Does It Really Work?

Sunday, October 12, 2025

1:30 PM - 1:36 PM EDT

Location: 242

Disclosure(s):

Douglas P. Nanu, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Alexa F. Ibrahim, BA:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Signaling in otolaryngology residency applications allows applicants to express specific interest in programs, potentially improving their chances of receiving interview invitations. This study evaluates the impact and magnitude of signaling on interview rates across all otolaryngology residency programs and within US Census Bureau regions (Midwest, Northeast, and South).

Methods: Data from US otolaryngology residency programs for the match 2024 year were analyzed using the AAMC Residency Explorer Tool. Mean interview rates with standard deviations (SD) for signaled and non-signaled applicants were compared using paired t-tests, and effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were calculated via ChatGPT 4o. Regional differences were assessed across Midwest, Northeast, and South regions. Programs from the West had insufficient data for inclusion.

Results: There was a total of n=83 otolaryngology programs with n=49 programs having unavailable data. Overall, applicants who applied to residency programs and included a signal of interest had significantly higher interview rates compared to those who applied to programs without signaling (mean=39.8% [SD=13.7%] vs. 5.3% [SD=7.7%], p< 0.0001, d=8.25). In the Midwest, signaling increased interview rates by 32.2% (mean=35.3% [SD=9.3%] vs. 3.2% [SD=3.4%], p< 0.0001, d=4.59). In the Northeast, the difference was 47.0% (mean=52.0% [SD=1.4%] vs. 5.0% [SD=4.2%], p< 0.0001, d=14.86). In the South, signaling increased interview rates by 22.7% (mean=31.3% [SD=20.8%] vs. 8.7% [SD=15.0%], p=0.002, d=1.25). These results indicate that signaling had the greatest impact in the Northeast, followed by the Midwest and South.

Conclusions: Signaling is associated with significantly higher interview rates overall and across all regions, with the strongest effects observed in the Northeast. The findings underscore the importance of signaling as a critical tool in the residency application process and suggest regional differences in its effectiveness. These insights may guide applicants and residency programs in optimizing the use of signaling to improve match outcomes.

Presenting Author(s)

Douglas P. Nanu, BS

Medical Student
Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Bellevue, WA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

SK

Sofia Khan, DO

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Presenting Author(s)

Alexa F. Ibrahim, BA

Medical Student
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the Univeristy of Buffalo
Oyster Bay, NY, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

Alexa F. Ibrahim, BA

Medical Student
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the Univeristy of Buffalo
Oyster Bay, NY, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
SN

Shaun A. Nguyen, MD

Professor and Director of Clinical Research
Medical Univ of South Carolina Dept of OTO
CHarleston, SC, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

MC

Michele M. Carr, DDS MD PhD

Professor
Department of Otolaryngology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
Williamsville, New York, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.