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ARTICLE TYPE : RESEARCH ARTICLE

Published on :   29 Jun 2026, Volume - 2
Journal Title :   WebLog Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology | WebLog J Obstet Gynecol | WJOG
Journal ISSN:   3142-922X
Source URL:   weblog icon https://weblogoa.com/articles/wjog.2026.f2901
Permanent Identifier (DOI) :   doi icon https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21322942

Pre-Residency Research Productivity of Matched OB/GYN Residents Before and After the USMLE Step 1 Transition

Bhavini Singh 1 *
Heidi David 1
Arjun N. Bhatt 2
Asim Ahmed 3
Jack McClain 4
Ali Abolhassani 5
Robert Higgins 1
Bunja Rungruang 1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
2Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
3Department of Otolaryngology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
4Department of Urology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
5Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA

Abstract

Objective(s): To assess the influence of the USMLE Step 1 transition on research productivity during the pre-residency period of matched obstetrics and gynecology residents.

Design: Retrospective cohort study comparing research productivity between residents who matched before the Step 1 transitioned from graded to pass/fail (class of 2026) and after it (class of 2028). PubMed-indexed publications were analyzed for count, authorship, specialty relevance, citation rate, and type. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare group differences, with total publications as the primary outcome.

Setting: Top 50 obstetrics and gynecology residency programs in the United States, according to Doximity.

Population: A total of 650 matched obstetrics and gynecology residents were included (n=323 from the class of 2026 and n=327 from the class of 2028). Residents with MD/PhD degrees were excluded.

Results: Residents in the post-Step 1 transition cohort produced a higher mean number of total publications (1.67±2.68 vs. 1.07±1.73, p=0.001), in-specialty publications (0.47±1.06 vs. 0.79±1.64), and first-author publications (0.51±0.94 vs. 0.32±0.71, p=0.005) compared to the pre-transition cohort.

Conclusion(s): The Step 1 transition from graded to pass/fail coincided with a statistically significant increase in pre-residency research productivity of matched obstetrics and gynecology residents. Residents from higher NIH-funded medical schools had significantly more publications than those from lower-funded schools. These findings highlight the need for residency programs to interpret research productivity within the context of available resources and evolving applicant pressures in the post–Step 1 scoring era.

Keywords: USMLE Step 1; Research Productivity; Residency Application; OB/GYN Residency; Pass/Fail Transition

Citation

Singh B, David H, Bhatt AN, Ahmed A, McClain J, Abolhassani A, et al. Pre Residency Research Productivity of Matched OB/GYN Residents Before and After the USMLE Step 1 Transition. WebLog J Obstet Gynecol. wjog.2026. f2901. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21322942
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