Geographic Reach of Surgery Residency Interviews During In-Person and Virtual Interviews

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Virtual recruitment for Surgery residency may improve interview opportunities for applicants from URM and lower socioeconomic backgrounds. We aim to estimate the impact of virtual interviews for Surgery residency on applicants’ geographic reach. METHODS: Retrospective cohort of applications for surgery residency for the 2019 (in-person) and 2020 (virtual interviews) in an academic surgery residency. Geographic reach (GR) was the distance between applicants’ current location and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where interviews were conducted. Demographics, USMLE scores and geographic distance to target program were collected. Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (FFIEC) website was used to obtain socioeconomic data. Multivariable analyses with interaction terms were conducted. RESULTS: Six hundred sixty-seven and 698 applications were reviewed in the 2019 and 2020 match, respectively. Overall, there was no difference in GR for in-person and virtual interviews (p = 0.826). For non-URM applicants, virtual interviews had no impact on geographic reach (-52.57 miles, 95% CI -150.60-45.47; Table 4) while for URM applicants, virtual interviews increased GR by 240.14 miles (95% CI 7.55-472.72, p = 0.043). For applicants from communities with low poverty levels, virtual interviews decreased GR by 195.33 miles (95% CI 372.53-18.12, p = 0.0316) while for applicants from communities with high poverty levels, virtual interviews increased GR by 238.91 miles (95% CI 34.08-443.73, p = 0.022). Analyses controlled for USMLE Step 1 score (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Virtual recruiting might increase interview opportunities for surgery residency for applicants of URM and lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Educational leadership should optimize virtual recruitment opportunities as part of the strategies to promote diversity in surgical training.