How hard is it to match into surgery residency?

Surgery residency, particularly general surgery and its subspecialties (Ortho, Neuro, ENT), is highly competitive, with near 100% fill rates for programs and many more applicants than spots, requiring excellent board scores, research, and strong applications, although top programs are much harder than average ones, which are moderately competitive. While top surgical fields demand near-perfect applications, General Surgery is competitive but offers a path for solid applicants, though unmatched rates for US seniors can still be significant (around 10-20% in recent years), notes The Medical School Headquarters and The Successful Match.

How hard is it to match into surgery?

In 2022, 3071 medical students/graduates applied to categorical general surgery residency and 1619 matched successfully for an overall 52.7% match rate (1).

Is it hard to get a surgery residency?

General surgery residencies are highly competitive in both the US and Canada. All of the 80 general surgery residency positions in Canada were filled last year, even though there were 193 applicants.

What's the hardest residency to match into?

The hardest residencies to match into consistently include Dermatology, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Otolaryngology (ENT), often followed closely by specialties like Radiation Oncology, Interventional Radiology, and Vascular Surgery, due to high demand, limited spots, prestige, lifestyle appeal, and high applicant qualifications (USMLE scores, research). These specialties see low match rates for U.S. seniors, with Dermatology often having the lowest match rates in recent years, as noted in this MedSchoolCoach article.
 

How competitive are surgical residencies?

Surgery Specialties Remain Very Competitive

Match data show that residencies in the surgical specialties are highly desirable, with fill rates of at least 99%.

How to Ace Your General Surgery Residency Interview

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in high-demand surgical and specialized fields like Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, Radiology, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology often earn over $500,000 annually, with some top earners in Thoracic Surgery or Neurosurgery making significantly more, while even family doctors can reach this level through practice ownership or specialized services.
 

Which surgeon had a 300% mortality rate?

The surgeon associated with a legendary 300% mortality rate is Robert Liston, a famous 19th-century Scottish surgeon known for his incredible speed before anesthesia, though this specific story is likely an embellished tale of a single, disastrous amputation where the patient, his assistant, and a spectator died, making it the only procedure with more deaths than participants. The high mortality stemmed from infection (gangrene) and shock, common in the era, but Liston was also a pioneer in anesthesia and hygiene.
 

What doctor has the easiest residency?

Some medical specialties, like family medicine, psychiatry, and pediatrics are less competitive, with more residency slots available, making them easier to get into. Specialties like orthopedics and plastic surgery are very competitive because of the rigorous requirements and limited number of residency spots.

Is surgery the hardest specialty?

Several specialties commonly among the top 10 hardest medical specialties: Neurosurgery is known for its long residency and steep learning curve and tests both endurance and precision. Orthopedic Surgery requires not only vast knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy but also mastery of intricate procedures.

Do surgeons make 1 million a year?

Yes, many surgeons, especially in high-demand specialties like neurosurgery, orthopedics, and cardiovascular surgery, can earn over $1 million annually, though it often requires long hours, high patient volume, or private practice ownership. While general surgeon averages are lower, top earners in specialties or those in lucrative private/elective practices frequently exceed the seven-figure mark, sometimes through business models focused on high-value packages rather than just volume, as noted in discussions by AMN Healthcare, The White Coat Investor, and Protouch Staffing. 

What are the top 3 riskiest surgeries?

While "riskiest" varies, Brain Surgery (Neurosurgery), Open Heart Surgery (Cardiac Procedures), and Organ Transplants consistently rank among the most dangerous due to complexity, delicate organs, and potential for severe complications like bleeding, infection, nerve damage, or organ rejection, with specific procedures like Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), Craniectomy, and Aortic Aneurysm Repair often cited as top examples.
 

What age do most surgeons finish residency?

5 year residency programs include radiology, urology, general surgery, vascular surgery, and otolaryngology, which puts you at 31 after residency. Plastic surgery, thoracic surgery, and interventional radiology are 6 year residency programs, which means you'll finish residency at age 32.

What is the easiest surgical specialty to match into?

Orthopedic surgery and certain areas of plastic surgery are frequently cited as relatively easier due to their straightforward nature, compared to more intricate specialties like neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery or trauma surgery.

What is the dropout rate for surgery residency?

Attrition within surgical training is a challenge, in the USA, attrition rates are as high as 20–26% [1, 2].

How old is the youngest surgeon?

The youngest person to perform surgery is widely recognized as Akrit Jaswal from India, who was 7 years old when he successfully operated on an 8-year-old burn victim in 2000, freeing her fused fingers, a feat that stunned the medical world and brought him international fame, including an appearance on Oprah. While he wasn't a fully qualified surgeon with a degree, he demonstrated advanced surgical skill at a remarkably young age, leading to his title as the "world's youngest surgeon".
 

What surgery is called the mother of all surgeries?

The surgery nicknamed the "Mother of All Surgeries" (MOAS) is Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) combined with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC), a complex, multi-hour procedure for cancers spreading in the abdominal cavity (like appendix or colorectal cancer) that involves extensive removal of cancerous tissue and bathing the abdomen with heated chemotherapy. It's called this due to its extreme physical demands, long duration, large incisions, and the need to remove all visible disease, making it like several major surgeries in one.
 

What is the richest surgical specialty?

1. Neurosurgery. Neurosurgeons earn an average of $763,908 per year, which is 219% higher than the national median salary of physicians in the U.S. They perform complex surgeries on the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Training includes at least a seven-year residency, making it one of the most demanding specialties.

What is the rarest type of doctor?

There isn't one single "rarest" specialty, as it varies by location and data, but fields like Pediatric Ophthalmology, Wound Care, Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Fetal & Perinatal Pathology consistently rank among the least common due to extensive training, niche focus, or limited demand, with some specialties like Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology also having very few active physicians. 

Who is the lowest paid doctor?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties consistently fall in primary care and certain pediatric subspecialties, with Pediatrics often cited as the lowest overall, followed by Public Health/Preventive Medicine, Family Medicine, and pediatric subspecialties like Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases. These roles offer lower compensation than surgical or high-demand adult specialties, often due to the broad nature of primary care and the focus on children's health, though they provide excellent work-life balance for many.
 

What surgeon has the shortest residency?

Vascular Surgery (integrated)

If choosing to complete a general surgery residency first, the independent training is then 2 years, making it the shortest residency of all integrated surgery specialties.

What is the least stressful doctor specialty?

Physicians must carefully consider factors like stress levels, burnout rates and work hours before making a decision. For those prioritizing work-life balance, specialties like dermatology, ophthalmology, family medicine and psychiatry offer less stressful environments and lower rates of burnout.

What is the riskiest surgery ever?

There isn't one single "most dangerous" surgery, as risk depends on patient health and surgeon skill, but highly perilous procedures often involve the brain (like Craniectomy) or highly vascular areas, with the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) noted for high mortality due to fat embolism risks, while historical accounts, like Robert Liston's infamous amputation, show extreme dangers from infection in the pre-antibiotic era. 

Who was the fastest surgeon to become?

Robert Liston (1794-1847) held a (well-earned) reputation as the fastest surgeon of his time.

What is the #1 cause of death right now?

The leading cause of death globally and in the United States is Heart Disease (Cardiovascular Disease), followed by cancer, according to recent data from organizations like the WHO and CDC. Heart disease accounts for a significant portion of global deaths, making it the number one killer, though specific types of heart issues (like heart failure) and risk factors (like diet, stress, inactivity) are changing.