Virtual Interview Research Articles

VIRTUAL ADAPTATION OF MULTIMODAL CARDIAC SURGERY RESIDENCY INTERVIEW DURING COVID-19

BACKGROUND The Canadian residency match process has required adaptations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as in-person interviews and out-of-city electives were cancelled. Though an online virtual panel interview is feasible, it may not provide the most holistic assessment especially in the absence of a clinical elective. Our cardiac surgery residency program has previously established a multimodal interview to evaluate a candidate's situational awareness, ability to perform under pressure, and suitability for our specific program. Within the new COVID-19 constraints, we have adapted our multimodal evaluation strategy for the 2021 Cardiac Surgery CaRMS Interview. As virtual interview strategies may continue for the upcoming residency match cycle, our comprehensive approach may provide a sustainable solution. METHODS AND RESULTS The multimodal evaluation strategy consists of a written situational judgement test (SJT), multiple-mini-interview (MMI) session and panel interview, which were all converted to an online format (Image). The paper-based SJT requires applicants to read a scenario and rank appropriate responses from most to least appropriate and was converted to an online format using Google Forms. The MMI was carried out using Zoom conference software with 8 breakout rooms from which the applicants would move virtually with Zoom functions. Two interviewers were in the same room at our center using one laptop and each applicant accessed the Zoom meeting from their own computer. The panel interview was also carried out using Zoom conference software with multiple interviewers and one interviewee accessing the meeting from their own personal computer. To coordinate the event, a WhatsApp group was made and coordinated by two interviewers (VV and AB) to provide instructions to applicants and answer questions. Survey results for interviewer and applicant experiences are listed in the accompanying table. CONCLUSION Our comprehensive multimodal interview strategy allows for a holistic evaluation of applicants and was successfully adapted to a virtual format in a time where in-person interviews and electives were deemed infeasible. This strategy was well received by applicants and interviewers. As a long-term solution and reliable alternative will be needed moving forward, this method is a viable strategy for future virtual CaRMS cycles. Furthermore, as residency interview tours have notoriously been financially taxing on applicants, this online strategy will be a sustainable alternative even after travel restrictions are lifted. In the future, this virtual strategy can be combined with clinical electives to provide a cost-effective evaluation of potential candidates for residency. The Canadian residency match process has required adaptations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as in-person interviews and out-of-city electives were cancelled. Though an online virtual panel interview is feasible, it may not provide the most holistic assessment especially in the absence of a clinical elective. Our cardiac surgery residency program has previously established a multimodal interview to evaluate a candidate's situational awareness, ability to perform under pressure, and suitability for our specific program. Within the new COVID-19 constraints, we have adapted our multimodal evaluation strategy for the 2021 Cardiac Surgery CaRMS Interview. As virtual interview strategies may continue for the upcoming residency match cycle, our comprehensive approach may provide a sustainable solution. The multimodal evaluation strategy consists of a written situational judgement test (SJT), multiple-mini-interview (MMI) session and panel interview, which were all converted to an online format (Image). The paper-based SJT requires applicants to read a scenario and rank appropriate responses from most to least appropriate and was converted to an online format using Google Forms. The MMI was carried out using Zoom conference software with 8 breakout rooms from which the applicants would move virtually with Zoom functions. Two interviewers were in the same room at our center using one laptop and each applicant accessed the Zoom meeting from their own computer. The panel interview was also carried out using Zoom conference software with multiple interviewers and one interviewee accessing the meeting from their own personal computer. To coordinate the event, a WhatsApp group was made and coordinated by two interviewers (VV and AB) to provide instructions to applicants and answer questions. Survey results for interviewer and applicant experiences are listed in the accompanying table. Our comprehensive multimodal interview strategy allows for a holistic evaluation of applicants and was successfully adapted to a virtual format in a time where in-person interviews and electives were deemed infeasible. This strategy was well received by applicants and interviewers. As a long-term solution and reliable alternative will be needed moving forward, this method is a viable strategy for future virtual CaRMS cycles. Furthermore, as residency interview tours have notoriously been financially taxing on applicants, this online strategy will be a sustainable alternative even after travel restrictions are lifted. In the future, this virtual strategy can be combined with clinical electives to provide a cost-effective evaluation of potential candidates for residency.

LGBTQ+ Equity in Virtual Residency Recruitment: Innovations and Recommendations.

LGBTQ+ Equity in Virtual Residency Recruitment: Innovations and Recommendations.

National Pediatric Experience With Virtual Interviews: Lessons Learned and Future Recommendations.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic significantly impacted undergraduate and graduate medical education and created challenges that prevented a traditional approach to residency and fellowship recruitment and interviews. Early in the pandemic, the pediatric education community came together to support applicants and training programs and to foster an equitable recruitment process. We describe many of our community's innovations, including the use of virtual cafés to educate programs and highlight best practices for virtual recruitment and the use of regional webinars to highlight residency programs and provide information to applicants. Surveys of applicants and programs suggest that the virtual interview process worked well overall, with applicants and programs saving both time and money and programs maintaining a high rate of filling their positions. On the basis of this experience, we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of 3 potential models for future interview seasons. We close with a series of questions that need further investigation to create an effective and equitable recruitment process for the future.

Lessons Learned: Applicant Equity and the 2020-2021 Virtual Interview Season

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound impact on medical training in the United States over the past year. In March 2020, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) temporarily suspended medical student participation on all clinical services nationwide (1). The National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) followed with a joint statement in May 2020 announcing that the 2020-2021 residency interview season would be conducted virtually (2).

Virtual Interviews: Challenges and Opportunities for Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Programs.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic brought profound change to the medical education system, and residency and fellowship recruitment was not spared. Many of the activities required for recruitment of new fellows (e.g., airline travel and face-to-face meetings) were not able to be safely done. The rapid shift to all-virtual interviewing brought logistical challenges but, as the season concluded, called into question the value and validity of prior protocols. Our institutions (University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio) designed surveys to collect both applicants’ and interviewers’ perspectives on the virtual interview process for the 2020–2021 recruitment season to identify the challenges virtual interviews may bring to the current paradigm and what that may mean for the value of the traditional in-person model. Our results show that the absence of certain aspects of in-person interviews (e.g., travel costs and time required off-service) were welcome changes to both applicants and interviewers. However, there were new challenges identified, such as lack of formal training for virtual interviews and a shift in applicants’ attention to fellowship program websites. We discuss how these observations could inform best practices for programs and applicants in the future.

Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program Website Content and Accessibility During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Study.

BackgroundThe exceptional competitiveness of the orthopedic surgery specialty, combined with the unclear impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residency recruitment, has presented significant challenges to applicants and residency program directors. With limited in-person opportunities in the 2020-2021 application cycle, applicants have been pressed to gauge chances and best fit by browsing program websites.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to assess the accessibility and content of accredited orthopedic surgery residency program websites during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsUsing the online database of the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), we compiled a list of accredited orthopedic surgery residency programs in the United States. Program websites were evaluated across four domains: program overview, education, research opportunities, and application details. Each website was assessed twice in July 2020, during a period of adjustment to the COVID-19 pandemic, and twice in November 2020, following the October ERAS application deadline.ResultsA total of 189 accredited orthopedic surgery residency programs were identified through ERAS. Of these programs, 3 (1.6%) did not have functional website links on ERAS. Data analysis of content in each domain revealed that most websites included program details, a description of the didactic curriculum, and sample rotation schedules. Between the two evaluation periods in July and November 2020, the percentage of program websites containing informative videos and virtual tours rose from 12.2% (23/189) to 48.1% (91/189; P<.001) and from 0.5% (1/189) to 13.2% (25/189; P<.001), respectively. However, the number of programs that included information about a virtual subinternship or virtual interview on their websites did not change. Over the 4-month period, larger residency programs with 5 or more residents were significantly more likely to add a program video (P<.001) or virtual tour (P<.001) to their websites.ConclusionsMost residency program websites offered program details and an overview of educational and research opportunities; however, few addressed the virtual transition of interviews and subinternships during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Guide to the Online ST1 Ophthalmology Interview

Given the unpredictable situation of the COVID-19 pandemic it is unclear whether the interviews will be held face to face for the 2021/2022 recruitment round. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists are yet to release any guidance regarding this. In case the interviews are held online again, I have outlined some helpful information for applicants about how to prepare for a virtual interview process. I have included three areas which are important to think about prior to an online interview; the environment, how to present yourself and technology.

‘Empowering clinicians in smaller sites’: A qualitative study of clinician's experiences with a rural Virtual Paediatric Feeding Clinic

To explore the experiences of 'spoke site' allied health and child and family health clinicians in the provision of care through a pilot 'hub and spoke' model Virtual Paediatric Feeding Clinic (VPFC) outreach service. The study was qualitative, with data from virtual interview transcripts analysed using thematic analysis. Orange Health Service ('hub site') and seven community health centres within the Western NSW Local Health District ('spoke sites'). Nine 'spoke site' clinicians (from dietetics, speech pathology, occupational therapy and child and family health nursing), who had participated in the pilot clinic. Participants took part in a semi-structured interview with a member of the research team. Spoke site clinicians experiences and perceptions of the VPFC. Four key themes emerged: (1) impact of the VPFC on 'spoke site' clinicians, (2) benefits for clients and families, (3) perceptions of the virtual model of care and (4) VPFC service challenges. The expansion of an existing interdisciplinary Paediatric Feeding Clinic into a virtual service demonstrates the use of technology to bridge a gap in healthcare. Clinicians reported benefits not only for families, but for their own knowledge and confidence in provision of care and reduced professional isolation through connection with discipline-specific colleagues.

ASSESSMENT OF PRODUCTION STATUS OF FISH IN FISH ZONE MAHOTARRI, NEPAL

This study was conducted in June, 2020 to know the current status of production of fish subsector in fish zone, Mahottari district. For the study, the primary information was collected from 60 households via predetermined semi structured interview schedule. Simple random technique was used to select the respondents. Virtual interview was carried out to confirm the data collected from household as primary data. Different research journal, articles, reports, books, and the publication of national and international agency, government and non- government organization was consulted to collect secondary data. Collected data was verified and entered in Ms-Excel software for descriptive analysis. Problem indexing was done to rank the major problems. Study revealed socio economic preview with production. Majority of the respondents were found adopted fish farming as major source of income and majority of the respondents engaged in this subsector were from Madhesi community. However, it was found that the farmers were adopting traditional practices for fish production. Unavailability of quality seeds and feeds was found the major problems in the commercial fish farming. Farmers supplying traditional feeds (MOC) only were found dominant. Application of chemical fertilizer was less than the Nepal government’s recommended quantity. Farmers were found applying more quantity of DAP than Urea. Argulosis and E.U.S were the most commonly found diseases in fish. Use of equipment like aerator, pH meter, DO meter to maintain water quality was found very less by farmer. Total production of table fish was found to be 4158.09 qts whereas average production per household was found to be 70.47 qts. B/C ratio was found 1.43 which suggested fish farming was a profitable agricultural business in fish zone, Mahottari and was economically viable to run forward in future.

A new world of residency education: game changers and proven practices

Introduction: Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, all interviews for internal medicine (IM) subspecialty programs were conducted virtually for the first time across Canada. It is critical to improve the virtual interview process to provide the best experience, and thus match outcome, for both residents and programs. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of IM residents, subspecialty program directors (PDs), and interviewers during this year’s virtual interviews.Methods: We invited all Canadian third-year (PGY-3) IM residents, subspecialty PDs, and interviewers who participated in subspecialty medicine interviews in 2020 to complete a branching survey. The anonymous survey was distributed after the submission of the rank order lists, such that participation would not affect residency match outcomes. Qualitative data were open-coded thematically and quantitative data were cleaned and then statistically analysed.Results: 62 PGY-3 IM residents, 59 PDs, and 113 interviewers responded to the survey with representation from almost all Canadian medical faculties and medical subspecialties. Strengths of virtual interviews included reduced cost, stress, risk of COVID-19 infection, and more environmental friendliness. Weaknesses of virtual interviews included decreased ability to connect personally and informally, and inability to tour medical facilities and cities. A majority of both residents (59.6%) and PDs/interviewers (54.5%) supported conducting interviews virtually in the future.Conclusion: This study provides suggestions on how to improve the virtual interview process for the next iteration, and highlights the impact COVID-19 has had on IM residents during the subspecialty match process. Virtual interviews were found to have different stressors as compared to in-person interviews and these require additional study.

PD24-07 IMPACT OF THE VIRTUAL INTERVIEW FORMAT ON UROLOGY RESIDENCY INTERVIEWS: A SURVEY OF PROGRAM DIRECTORS

You have accessJournal of UrologyEducation Research IV (PD24)1 Sep 2021PD24-07 IMPACT OF THE VIRTUAL INTERVIEW FORMAT ON UROLOGY RESIDENCY INTERVIEWS: A SURVEY OF PROGRAM DIRECTORS Andrew Ferry, Malke Asaad, Rami Elmorsi, Aashish Rajesh, and Renata Maricevich Andrew FerryAndrew Ferry More articles by this author , Malke AsaadMalke Asaad More articles by this author , Rami ElmorsiRami Elmorsi More articles by this author , Aashish RajeshAashish Rajesh More articles by this author , and Renata MaricevichRenata Maricevich More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002017.07AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed the 2020-2021 residency application cycle, with the introduction of the virtual interview (VI) format being among the most significant of implemented changes. While employed by all urology residencies this past application cycle, no studies have investigated how VIs have impacted the interview process from programs' perspective. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of VIs to serve as a guide for programs when determining their interview procedures in future residency application cycles. METHODS: Web-based surveys with questions regarding the VI format's impact on varying aspects of the residency interview process were sent out to program directors (PDs) of ACGME-accredited urology residency programs. Elements of the residency interview process covered in the questions included costs, time commitment, candidate evaluation, technical difficulties, and overall thoughts about the VI format. RESULTS: A total of 38 PDs responded to our survey. All responding PDs agreed or strongly agreed that VIs were less expensive than in-person interviews with an average cost reduction of $3,244 per program. Despite switching to a VI format, only 34% of PDs reported that interviews were less time-consuming than in-person interviews. Regarding the evaluation of candidates, the majority of PDs stated that VIs were detrimental for the assessment of candidates' fit with a program (74%), their personality and communication skills (74%), and their commitment to the specialty as well as their ability to function as a urology resident (68%). Consequentially, 53% of urology residencies relied more heavily on candidates' objective metrics when developing their rank list. Technical difficulties that interfered with interviewing candidates occurred in 5% of interviews. Overall, the majority of programs (53%) stated that VIs were inferior to in-person interviews. Despite their decreased satisfaction with the VI format, 61% of programs were open to hosting virtual and in-person interviews. At the same time, 34% and 5% of the PDs reported that they would prefer to exclusively host in-person or virtual interviews in the 2021-2022 application cycle, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite their associated reduction in interview-related costs, VIs are not as reliable as in-person interviews to assess residency candidates for urology residency positions. Despite this, VIs exhibit significant potential upon further refinement of the format. More studies are needed to determine their impact in future application cycles. Source of Funding: Internal Funding only © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e428-e428 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Andrew Ferry More articles by this author Malke Asaad More articles by this author Rami Elmorsi More articles by this author Aashish Rajesh More articles by this author Renata Maricevich More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...

THE INFLUENCE OF VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS ON THE FELLOWSHIP MATCH IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY (OBGYN)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how a virtual interview process influences the Obstetrics and Gynecology fellowship match at a single institution. Materials and Methods: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) OBGYN Department conducted all interviews in a virtual setting. Applicants and faculty completed 20 and 13-question surveys, respectively. A 5-point Likert scale was used for survey responses. The fellowship interviewees included those applying to the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Gynecologic Oncology, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, and Family Planning programs. Demographic data was collected and descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. Comparative analyses were performed with t-tests. Results: Surveys were distributed to 45 faculty members and 131 applicants with a response rate of 95.6% (n=43) and 46.6% (n=61), respectively. Of respondents, 83.7% (n=36) of faculty and 88.6% (n=54) of applicants agreed or strongly agreed that the video conference interviews (VCI) allowed them to accurately represent themselves (p=0.48). The majority of the applicants (62.3%, n=38) had a good understanding of the program’s culture after VCI. Over 70% (n=78) of applicants and faculty agreed or strongly agreed that they were able to form connections over VCI. Both applicants (67.2%, n=41) and faculty (83.7%, n=36) reported that the VCI helped them decide whether the program or candidate, respectively, was a good fit (p=0.98). Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that the majority of respondents could accurately represent themselves and form connections over VCI. Most importantly, both faculty and interviewees agreed that the VCI process helped to find a good match between applicant and program across all OBGYN fellowship programs. Given that in-person interviews require a significant amount of resources including time, unpredictable residency coverage issues, money, and coordination of travel, VCI is a viable option for fellowship interviews. Future studies should determine a standardized and evidenced-based approach for VCI. Impact Statement: The virtual interview model may be considered a long-term solution for fellowship interviews given the financial costs to the applicants and the time burden of the fellowship interview process for both the applicants and the residency programs. It will be important to optimize the VCI process so that applicants and departments can feel confident that the VCI process mirrors the match results of an in-person interview. Future research should investigate the impact of VCI on other avenues of training including the medical school and residency selection processes.

Proposal of ‘Making Virtual Interview Video’ Project Learning Model for Classical Education of Foreign Learners

목적 본 논문은 외국인 학습자들의 고전 교육을 위하여 ‘인물 가상 인터뷰 동영상 만들기’ 프로젝트 학습 모형을 설계하여 제안하고자 하는 데에 연구의 목적이 있다. ‘인물 가상 인터뷰 동영상 만들기’ 프로젝트 학습 모형은 고전 문학 읽기와 관련된 교양 교과목에서 읽기와 쓰기, 말하기를 통합적으로 교육할 수 있는 학습 모형이다. 방법 본 연구에서는 외국인 학습자들이 어려운 고전 읽기를 흥미롭게 학습할 수 있도록 고전 문학 작품 속의 등장인물과 인터뷰를 하는 ‘인물 가상 인터뷰 동영상 만들기’ 활동에 학습자의 능동적인 활동을 통한 문제해결을 강조하는 ‘프로젝트 학습법’을 적용한다. 결과 학습자들은 고전 텍스트를 읽고 인터뷰 대상을 선정하여 인물을 분석한 후에 인물 가상 인터뷰 시나리오와 스토리보드를 작성하고 동영상을 제작한다. 이러한 인물 가상 인터뷰 동영상 만들기 프로젝트는 준비하기, 계획하기, 탐구 및 표현하기, 마무리하기, 평가하기 과정으로 진행된다. 결론 본 논문에서는 외국인 학습자를 위한 인물 가상 인터뷰 동영상 만들기 프로젝트 학습의 최종 모형을 제시한다. 읽기와 쓰기, 말하기를 통합적으로 교육할 수 있는 본 프로젝트 학습 모형은 다양한 학습 효과를 얻을 수 있을 것으로 본다.

Challenges of virtual interviewing for surgical fellowships: a qualitative analysis of applicant experiences.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic forced surgical fellowship programs to transition from in-person to remote applicant interviews; the virtual interviewing format presented new and unique challenges. We sought to understand applicants’ perceived challenges to virtual interviewing for a surgical fellowship program.MethodA grounded theory-based qualitative study was performed utilizing semi-structured interviews with fellowship applicants from the 2020 fellowship match. All Fellowship Council-registered applicants were eligible. We purposefully sampled participants to balance across gender, specialty-choice, and academic versus community-program affiliation. Interviews were inductively analyzed by two researchers for prominent themes.ResultsFifteen interviews were conducted. Participants were 60% male (n = 9), with 33% (n = 5) from non-academic institutions. They applied for the following fellowships: Advanced Gastrointestinal/Minimal Invasive (55%), Bariatric (30%), Hepatopancreatobiliary (10%) and Surgical Oncology (5%). Four main themes emerged to describe virtual interview process challenges: (1) perceived data deficiency, (2) superficial personal connections, (3) magnification of non-professionalism, and (4) logistical frustrations. Applicants recommend program directors provide more information about the fellowship prior to interview day and offer informal independent interactions with current and previous fellows.ConclusionsAccording to fellowship applicants, virtual interviews resulted in a lack of information for rank-list decision making ultimately requiring them to rely on other information avenues to base their decisions. These applicants have offered advice to fellowship program directors and future applicants to better optimize this process.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00464-021-08691-9.

Virtual obstetrics and gynecology fellowship interviews during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: a survey study

BackgroundDue to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, all Obstetrics and Gynecology fellowship interviews were held virtually for the 2020 fellowship match cycle. The aim of this study was to describe our initial experience with virtual Obstetrics and Gynecology fellowship interviews and evaluate its effectiveness in assessing candidates.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional survey study that included all interviewing attending physicians and fellows from five Obstetrics and Gynecology subspecialties at a single academic institution following the 2020–2021 fellowship interview season. The survey consisted of 19 questions aimed to evaluate each subspecialty’s virtual interview process, including its feasibility and performance in evaluating applicants. The primary outcome was the subjective utility of virtual interviews. Secondary outcomes included a comparison of responses from fellows and attending physicians.ResultsThirty-six attendings and fellows completed the survey (36/53, 68% response rate). Interviewers felt applicants were able to convey themselves adequately during the virtual interview (92%) and the majority (70%) agreed that virtual interviews should be offered in future years. Attending physicians were more likely than fellows to state that the virtual interview process adequately assessed the candidates (Likert Scale Mean: 4.4 vs. 3.8, respectively, p = 0.02). Respondents highlighted decreased cost, time saved, and increased flexibility as benefits to the virtual interview process.ConclusionThe use of virtual interviews provides a favorable method for conducting fellowship interviews and should be considered for use in future application cycles. Most respondents were satisfied with the virtual interview process and found they were an effective tool for evaluating applicants.

What Are the Lessons Learned From the Virtual Interview Process for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Programs Affected by COVID-19?

PurposeWith the outbreak of COVID-19, residency programs for the 2020 to 2021 OMS interview cycle were forced to quickly adapt to a new method of assessing candidates—virtual interviewing—for the first time. The purpose of this study is to describe applicants’ perspectives regarding the advantages and disadvantages of the virtual interview process through an online descriptive survey.MethodsThis cross-sectional study utilizes a descriptive survey sent to the 2020 to 2021 interview cycle applicants of the University of Illinois at Chicago Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (UIC OMS) residency program. The survey consisted of questions employing both scaled and open-ended designs. The questions were fabricated to extrapolate applicants’ perceived advantages and disadvantages of virtual interviewing compared to their expectations of in-person interviewing by focusing on interactions, number of interviews received/attended, and overall applicant satisfaction. Descriptive statistics were computed for each variable for data analysis.ResultsIn the 2020 to 2021 UIC OMS residency cycle, there were 288 applications. A total of 102 surveys were collected (response rate = 35.4%). Respondents attended more interviews during the virtual format due to accessibility (64.7%), and cost savings (63.7%). 42.2% of applicants felt they did not present themselves as well during the virtual interview as they would have in person and 46.1% felt they did not have a good understanding of the culture of the program after the interview. 49.0% of all participants do not feel that virtual interviews should continue in the future.ConclusionsVirtual formats would allow access to a greater number of interviews; however, they lack the ability to promote effective interaction between applicants, residents, and faculty members. The results of the study show that although applicants agreed that interviews were more accessible this year, they felt that the “personal” interaction was lacking and they could not present themselves effectively with the virtual format. Ultimately, almost half (49%) of the respondents do not wish for virtual interviews to continue in the future.

The Virtual Recruitment Onion: Peeling Back the Layers of the Interview Season During the COVID-era

OBJECTIVEWe sought to characterize General Surgery residency program directors’ (PDs) baseline perspective on how the COVID-19 mandated changes to the recruitment and interview processes impacted how the PDs evaluated and recruited the applicants.DESIGNAn anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire survey.SETTINGA large, mid-western academic general surgery residency program.PARTICIPANTS47 PDs of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited General Surgery residency programs.RESULTSDuring the virtual-only interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic-era 2020-21 General Surgery residency application cycle, PDs shifted their focus to virtual outreach efforts and bolstered social media presences to recruit strong applicants. Also, our study found statistically significant changes to the increased value of letters of recommendation (LORs) for the PDs when assessing an applicant's commitment to surgery. These findings suggest that the necessity of adapting to the virtual-only interview format significantly altered how the PDs recruited and evaluated applicants for the General Surgery residency match.CONCLUSIONSA complete replacement of the in-person interviews with virtual-only interviews may be challenging unless buy-in exists from key stakeholders in the surgical community. Our study highlights the PDs’ hesitation in assessing candidates’ commitment to surgery from virtual interviews alone. Incorporating virtual interviews as a part of the screening process for applicants may serve as an avenue to maximize the benefits of the virtual interview format. Furthermore, COVID-19 pandemic has normalized the growing social media presence of residency programs, adding to the changing landscape of recruiting and interviewing applicants for General Surgery residency match.

Virtual Interviews in Neurosurgery Resident Selection—A Work in Progress

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACGME recommended all interviews for the 2021 residency application cycle be held virtually. Because this is major shift from neurosurgical interviews in past years, this study aims to evaluate both applicant and interviewer satisfaction of conducting interviews virtually. For faculty, an 11-question online survey was sent to 116 United States neurosurgery training programs. A 14-question online survey was sent to 255 neurosurgery applicants. The resulting data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. From applicants, 118 responses were received. From faculty, 171 individual responses were received. Thirty-five percent (34.7%) of applicants agreed that they were satisfied with the virtual interview process as a whole. Although 44.5% of faculty disagreed with the statement "I would like to replace in-person interviews with virtual interviews in the future", 57.3% of faculty agreed that they were likely to implement virtual interviews in the future. Some things might be better assessed through in-person interviews, but there are clear benefits to virtual interviews. Future iterations of the interview process, incorporating virtual interviews, might help determine how and in which situations virtual interviews can be utilized in future residency application cycles.

The Virtual Interview Experience for MATCH 2021: A Pilot Survey of General Surgery Residency Program Directors.

Virtual interviews (VIs) for the 2020 residency application season were mandated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to determine the perspectives of general surgery (GS) program directors (PDs) on the benefits and drawbacks of VIs. A 14-item survey was emailed to all GS PDs from programs identified on the American Council for Graduate Medical Education website. Program directors were asked about the cost-time benefit of VIs, its ability to assess candidates, and their thoughts on the future of VIs for evaluating residency applicants. 60 PDs responded corresponding to a response rate of 21%. While 93% agreed/strongly agreed that VIs were less expensive, only 35% found VIs to be less time-consuming. 75% and 67%, respectively, disagreed/strongly disagreed that VIs allowed for an easier assessment of an applicant's fit, and personality and communication skills. Almost one-half of our survey respondents suggested that VIs made the selection committee rely more heavily on objective applicant data. Almost two-thirds of GS PDs suggested that they would adopt both VI and in-person interview formats for future application cycles. The median [interquartile range] cost saved through the implementation of VIs was US$ 4500 [1625 - 10000]. Remarkably, VIs have been swiftly imbibed by all residency programs and many aspects of the VI experience were positive. While MATCH 2021 has definitely proved to be one of its kind, the implementation of VIs has been met with overall broad success and a promising future awaits this novel modality of resident selection to GME programs in the United States.

Perceptions of the Virtual Neurosurgery Application Cycle During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Program Director Survey

ObjectiveThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a shift to virtual residency interviews for the 2020–2021 neurosurgery match, with unknown implications for stakeholders. This study seeks to analyze the perceptions of residency program directors (PDs) and associate program directors (APDs) regarding the current virtual format used for residency selection and interviews.MethodsAn anonymous, 30-question survey was constructed and sent to 115 neurosurgery PDs and 26 APDs to assess respondent demographics, factors used to review applicants, perceptions of applicants and applicant engagement, perceptions of standardized letters and interview questions, the effect of the virtual interview format on various stakeholders, and the future outlook for the virtual residency interview format.ResultsA total of 38 PDs and APDs completed this survey, constituting a response rate of 27.0%. Survey respondents received significantly more Electronic Residency Application Service applications in the 2020–2021 cycle compared with the 2019-2020 cycle (P = 0.0029). Subinternship performance by home-rotators, (26.3%), letters of recommendation (23.7%), and Step 1 score (18.4%) were ranked as the most important factors for evaluating candidates during the current virtual application cycle.ConclusionsOur study highlights that applicants applied to a greater number of residency programs compared with years prior, that the criteria used by PDs/APDs to evaluate applicants remained largely consistent compared to previous years, and that the virtual residency interview format may disproportionately disadvantage Doctor of Osteopathic medicine and international medical graduate applicants. Further exploring attitudes toward signaling mechanisms and standardized letters may serve to inform changes to future neurosurgery match cycles.