Purpose: To determine what are the most important considerations to OB/GYN applicants in creating their rank lists and understand how these factors compare to each other and to other aspects of the program
Background: Given the limitations set by social distancing necessitated by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, residency programs are faced with the challenge of conducting interviews virtually. This will test the importance of both the formal and less formal in-person interactions among applicants, residents, and faculty members that are unique to the traditional interview day.
Methods: An 18-question survey was administered via email from June - August 2020 to 675 medical school graduates who applied in the 2019 - 2020 interview cycle to a Northwell affiliated OB/GYN Residency Program.
Results: 145 medical school graduates completed the survey, a response rate of 21.5%. When asked about the most important factors in creating their residency rank lists, more than two-thirds reported that “resident camaraderie and collegiality” and “perceived happiness of current residents/ quality of life” were extremely important (73.79% and 70.34%, respectively) and more than half reported \"relationship between faculty and residents\" (58.62%). Based on their various interview experiences, nearly two-thirds of responders reported that the \"overall feel/ culture of the program\" was most important (64.83%).
Discussions: With nearly three-quarters of responders reporting perceived happiness of the residents and resident/ faculty camaraderie as extremely important, we acknowledge that in creating their rank lists applicants place more weight on the very aspects of the interview day that are unique to the in-person experience. This brings into question whether OB/GYN residency programs will be able to translate this experience to a virtual platform and how they will do so effectively.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2021, Student, Resident, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Osteopathic Faculty, Residency Director, Residency Coordinator, Medical Knowledge, Professionalism, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, GME, UME, Lecture, Team-Based Learning,
Rachel Kirshenbaum, MD, Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health; Cristina Zottola, MD; Sarah Werner, MD; Shoshana Aminov, BS; Adi Katz, MD
