Twelve Tips for Utilizing Residency Program Social Media Accounts for Modified Residency Recruitment

Background The phenomenon of internet dependence has changed the way the rising generation seeks information. This mentality has caused medical students to turn to online resources as they seek information about potential residency training programs. Residency program web presence (PWP) is increasingly important, and may even impact recruitment efforts. Improvement of PWP could enhance programs' recruitment of ideal candidates. Objectives The purpose of this study is to assess how ophthalmology residency PWP is impacting the residency recruitment process by understanding how it influences applicants' application and rank list choices as well as to identify the contributing factors. Methods Applicants applying for ophthalmology residency training at Penn State University during the 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 application cycles were surveyed using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). Surveys sought applicants' perspectives with respect to their experiences with PWP and how those experiences shaped their application and rank list decisions. Results Of 860 applicants, 214 (24.9%) responded, accounting for 17.4% (214/1,228) of all ophthalmology residency applicants during the respective cycles; 72.4% of respondents expressed PWP does impact where they apply, how they form their rank list, or both; 93.4% said websites are an important resource during the application process; 47.2% conveyed interest in programs utilizing social media tools; and 76.5% of respondents felt websites gave sufficient information less than 50% of the time. Conclusion Ophthalmology PWP does impact resident recruitment. By enhancing program websites and adding social media tools, programs can improve recruitment efforts.

Download Full-text

The #Path2Path Virtual Landscape During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preparing for the 2020 Pathology Residency Recruitment Season

Academic Pathology ◽

10.1177/23742895211002783 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 237428952110027

Author(s):

Hannah Cutshall ◽

Reagan Hattaway ◽

Nikhi P. Singh ◽

Soroush Rais-Bahrami ◽

Brandi McCleskey

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

American Medical ◽

Residency Program ◽

Web Pages ◽

Residency Programs ◽

Residency Recruitment ◽

Virtual Experiences ◽

Residency Application ◽

Medical Colleges

On May 11, 2020, the Association of American Medical Colleges released recommendations discouraging in-person activities for away rotations and mandating virtual-only residency recruitment interviews. This paper focuses on how residency programs have attempted to adjust to this vastly different application cycle by using social media to reach their applicants. A total of 138 programs were identified through the Electronic Residency Application Services. The presence of Departmental/Residency program Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook as well as web pages offering virtual opportunities was recorded for each program on October 30, 2020. A total of 132 social media accounts were found; the majority of which were on Twitter, while fewer were on Instagram and Facebook. All 138 pathology residency programs had websites. Sixteen (11.5%) of those advertised virtual open houses and 2 (1.4%) advertised virtual subinternships; social media were more often used for advertisement of these virtual experiences. A total of 58 open house opportunities were advertised on Twitter, 21 on Instagram, and 20 on Facebook. Innovative virtual subinternships ranging from 2 to 4 weeks were developed, but only represented 6% of the usual 126 away rotations available. Pathology programs across the country utilized websites and social media as a method of communication to interact with applicants as part of the #Path2Path in 2020 and to provide virtual opportunities in preparation for a drastically different recruitment cycle.

Download Full-text

Residency Program Social Media Accounts and Recruitment - A Qualitative Quality Improvement Project

MedEdPublish ◽

10.15694/mep.2020.000203.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laurel Fick ◽

Katherine Palmisano ◽

Michelle Solik

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Quality Improvement ◽

Residency Program ◽

Quality Improvement Project ◽

Improvement Project

Download Full-text

Adaptations in anesthesiology residency programs amid the COVID-19 pandemic: virtual approaches to applicant recruitment

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-021-02895-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Donaldson C. Lee ◽

Alexander M. Kofskey ◽

Nikhi P. Singh ◽

Timothy W. King ◽

Paul D. Piennette

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Exponential Growth ◽

Personal Contact ◽

Residency Programs ◽

The Past ◽

Application Service ◽

Residency Recruitment ◽

Social Media Presence ◽

Virtual Events

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted residency recruitment in 2020, posing unique challenges for programs and applicants alike. Anesthesiology programs have adopted alternate methods of recruitment, including virtual open houses and social media, due to limiting personal contact rules implemented by AAMC. This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of virtual events hosted and social media accounts created by programs. Methods Anesthesiology residency programs and departments were examined for social media presence on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Programs’ websites and social media posts were reviewed for virtual open house opportunities. Available sub-internships were collected from the Visiting Student Application Service database. Data was collected after 2020–2021 pre-interview recruitment in October 2020. Results Of 153 total anesthesiology residency programs, 96 (63%) had some form of social media presence. The platforms of choice for programs with social media accounts included Twitter (71, or 46%), Instagram (67, or 44%), and Facebook (47, or 31%). Forty of seventy-six residency-affiliated accounts were created after March 1, 2020; Instagram accounts (26 of 40) represented most of these. Most Anesthesiology programs (59%) offered virtual open houses for prospective applicants. Twitter (25%), Instagram (22%), and Facebook (8%) were used by programs to advertise these events. Conclusions Social media presence of anesthesiology residency programs has grown steadily over the past decade, with exponential growth experienced in 2020. This data suggests that anesthesiology residency programs are employing new, mostly virtual, methods to reach prospective applicants during an unprecedented application cycle amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Download Full-text

Accuracy in Residency Program Rankings on Social Media

Journal of Graduate Medical Education ◽

10.4300/jgme-d-18-00534.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 127-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alice C. Lorch ◽

Joan W. Miller ◽

Carolyn E. Kloek

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Residency Program

Download Full-text

Commentary and Opinions: The Utilization of Social Media by Medical Residency Programs During COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Journal of Education and Training Studies ◽

10.11114/jets.v10i2.5443 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 13

Author(s):

Leilynaz Malekafzali ◽

Chaocheng Liu

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Medical Students ◽

Residency Program ◽

Medical Training ◽

Faculty Members ◽

Medical Residency ◽

Educational Materials ◽

Residency Programs ◽

Future Studies ◽

Social Media Platforms

As a result of COVID-19 pandemic, medical training has been greatly impacted globally. In Canada, out-of-province visiting clinical electives were cancelled. In addition, the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) interviews were transitioned to being virtual since 2020. As residency programs are exploring new ways to overcome the challenges of elective cancellation, there has been a surge of residency program social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Social media serves as a platform for residency programs to promote themselves in addition to posting interactive educational materials. Moreover, social media residency accounts provide a platform for medical students to learn about the programs and network virtually with fellow applicants, residents, program directors, and faculty members. Overall, social media is becoming a popular and valuable tool for residency programs to connect with the applicants during COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Among the different social media platforms, Instagram seems to be more appealing to both residency programs and the graduating medical students. We report our observations regarding selected Canadian residency program Instagram accounts. To maximize the success of using social media, it is important for the residency programs to consider the attitudes of applicants towards the residency social media accounts. Future studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of the Canadian residency program social media accounts for the final year students applying for these programs.

Download Full-text

Pediatric Dental Residency Program Directors’ Perspectives on and Use of Social Media for Resident Selection and Education

Journal of Dental Education ◽

10.21815/jde.019.151 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 51-56 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Glenn Canares ◽

Vineet Dhar

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Residency Program ◽

Program Directors ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Resident Selection ◽

Residency Program Directors

Download Full-text

Use of a Secure Social Media Platform to Facilitate Reflection in a Residency Program

Journal of Graduate Medical Education ◽

10.4300/jgme-d-13-00226.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 326-329 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Aaron W. Bernard ◽

Nicholas E. Kman ◽

Robert H. Bernard ◽

David P. Way ◽

Sorabh Khandelwal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Medical Education ◽

Residency Program ◽

Professional Growth ◽

Opinion Survey ◽

Social Media Platform ◽

Feasible Option ◽

Pilot Investigation ◽

Media Platform ◽

Quantitative And Qualitative Methods

Abstract Background Reflective writing is used to promote learning and professional growth in medical education. Sharing reflections with peers and supervisors facilitates feedback that enhances understanding. Objective We explored the feasibility of using a secure social media platform to share reflections and promote reflective discussions in an emergency medicine residency program. Methods This was a prospective pilot investigation evaluated with a poststudy opinion survey. Reflective discussions were also described using basic quantitative and qualitative methods. Results The 2-month, voluntary, pilot study included 21 faculty and 36 residents. Faculty posted reflections and replies (n = 146) more frequently than residents did (n = 48). Survey data suggested both groups found the platform engaging and easy to use, valued the security of the platform, and felt the conversations were valuable to their professional development. Conclusions Secure social media offers a feasible option for sharing reflections and facilitating reflective discussions in medical education.

Download Full-text