Implementation of Virtual Multiple Mini-Interviews for Fellowship Recruitment.

Abstract

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe SARS-CoV Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has upended health care systems and one of the casualties has been the trainee recruitment process since social distancing and travel restrictions make an in-person experience improbable. At the University of California, Davis (UCD), our Pain Division transitioned our internally validated multiple mini-interview (MMI) process to a virtual environmentMethodsApplicants signed a confidentiality agreement prior to their interviews and were invited to watch a series of videos orienting them to the process and to the program itself. All faculty raters interviewed candidates using a total of 6 non-medical MMI scenarios with corresponding questions and scoring rubrics through the Zoom platform. Applicants were then welcomed to voluntary informal conversations with the current fellow trainees and faculty. An optional survey was sent to the applicants post-interview to assess their overall satisfaction with the virtual process.ResultsThe survey analyzed the following using a 5 point Likert scale: Overall Satisfaction, Video Overview Program, Interview Day Details, Video Tour, Web-Based Interviews, Process was Fair, and finally a question on Informed Decision regarding receiving sufficient information to formulate their rank list. All respondents (80% response rate) reported being either satisfied or very satisfied with each of the aspects of the interview process detailed above.ConclusionsWhile technical difficulties and confidentiality issues are of concern when offering an entirely web based recruitment, our group was able to transition traditional in-person MMI to a virtual platform using a similar structure which was well-received by applicants