Otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OTOHNS) is a highly technical specialty whose members seek to recruit the brightest and most driven medical students early in their medical careers [1]. However, many students have limited exposure to OTOHNS throughout medical school [2]. Medical student interest groups promote early exposure to and interest in many specialties, including radiology, family medicine, oncology, and emergency medicine [[3], [4], [5], [6]]. Similarly, OTOHNS interest groups (OIGs) may enhance earlier student exposure to OTOHNS. A University of Connecticut School of Medicine (UConn SOM) study found that OIGs improved students' understanding of OTOHNS and positively influence these students, potentially leading to greater interest in the specialty [7].

Although OIGs may increase interest in OTOHNS, it is unknown if they influence the number of students attending OTOHNS residency programs from their medical schools. OIGs may enhance a student's chances matching into OTOHNS by providing students with earlier access to research opportunities and specialty-specific mentorship. Prior studies analyzed opportunities offered by interest groups in orthopedic surgery and dermatology, but they were unable to assess an association between interest group involvement and increased match rates [8,9]. A study at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons found that the creation of a surgical interest group at their medical school led to an 8 year sustained increase in students attending general surgery residency programs, with the majority of these students being involved in their surgical interest group [10]. However, no similar studies have been conducted for OIGs.

Our study aims to assess an association between the presence of an OIG at a medical school and the percentage of students matching into OTOHNS from that school. This study also aims to characterize specific aspects of OIGs (skill sessions, lectures, mentorship, research) that may impact the percentage of students matching into OTOHNS from those medical schools. We hypothesize that the presence of an OIG at a medical school increases the percentage of students matching into OTOHNS from that medical school.