Unifying the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Application Process Under a Single Accreditation System

Background: With the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical community saw many changes to practices and policies including medical education and the residency application process. Traditionally medical students in their fourth year of their training are allotted time for away rotations at an institution of their choosing. As a result of COVID-19, many medical schools were forced to eliminate away rotations from their curriculum due to concerns about student safety. This led to the advent of social media outlets designed for the specific purpose of providing medical students with information about residency programs in an effort to recruit interested candidates. With virtual meetings, online communications, and social media platforms all becoming a cornerstone in management of day-to-day hospital functioning this seemed the most appropriate way of adapting to the pandemic while still finding a way to communicate with medical students interested in orthopaedic surgery (9). We hypothesize that the advent of social media accounts during the COVID-19 pandemic would play a role in the orthopaedic residency application process. Question/Purpose: Our question was to determine the role of social media on the orthopaedic surgery residency application process during the COVID-19 era. Patients/Methods: An electronic survey consisting of 12 multiple-choice questions was created to query medical students applying to the field of orthopaedics about the role of social media on their application process. The survey link was emailed to all orthopaedic residency applicants available through the ERAS system. Conclusion: Based on our results it appears applicants may be using social media accounts as a tool to get onto a residency program’s “radar” rather than to obtain meaningful information about a program. Medical students do however find zoom meetings and open houses to be meaningful and provide valuable insight for their application process.

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Critical Assessment of the Contemporary Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Application Process

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) ◽

10.2106/jbjs.18.00587 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 101 (21) ◽

pp. e114 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Neill Y. Li ◽

Philip A. Gruppuso ◽

Saisanjana Kalagara ◽

Adam E.M. Eltorai ◽

J. Mason DePasse ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Orthopaedic Surgery ◽

Critical Assessment ◽

Application Process ◽

Residency Application

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COVID-19 and the Ophthalmology Residency Match: Data from Applicants' Perspectives

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1728759 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (01) ◽

pp. e73-e77

Author(s):

Benjamin Steren ◽

Ankur Parikh ◽

Bilal Ahmed ◽

Benjamin Young ◽

Jayanth Sridhar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Interest Groups ◽

The United States ◽

Application Process ◽

Substantial Impact ◽

Clinical Exposure ◽

Residency Programs ◽

Informed Decisions ◽

Rank List ◽

Perceived Impacts ◽

Residency Application

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound impact on medical education, particularly for those applying to residency programs in 2020 to 2021. This study describes the challenges for potential ophthalmology residency applicants so that residency leadership can make informed decisions about changes to the process. Methods A survey was distributed electronically via social media and medical school ophthalmology interest groups from June 18, 2020 to July 2, 2020 to individuals interested in applying to ophthalmology residency in the United States. Survey questions included demographics and perceived impacts of COVID-19 on ability, confidence, intention to apply, and perceptions toward changes in the application process for the 2020 to 2021 ophthalmology residency application cycle. Results One-hundred sixteen total responses were received. Eighty-six responses (74%) were from individuals intending to apply in the 2020 to 2021 application cycle. Most respondents (86%) felt that their application would be affected by COVID-19 with 51% feeling less confident. Only four (5%) felt that they could adequately compile a rank list following a video interview, and over half (51%) anticipated applying to more programs than they originally intended. Academic plans of seven (8%) respondents were significantly altered via deferral of application or cancellation of a research year. Thirty-nine (45%) students reported delayed ophthalmology electives, with less than half (41%) feeling that they had adequate clinical exposure to be prepared for residency. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the 2020 to 2021 ophthalmology residency application cycle. As stakeholders begin to approach this cycle, these findings will help them make effective and informed decisions to create the best overall experience for all involved.

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OHNS Residency Program and Applicant Social Media Presence During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Annals of Otology Rhinology & Laryngology ◽

10.1177/0003489420987977 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000348942098797

Author(s):

Shadi Ahmadmehrabi ◽

Deborah X. Xie ◽

Bryan K. Ward ◽

Paul C. Bryson ◽

Patrick Byrne

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

The United States ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Application Process ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Residency Programs ◽

Social Media Presence ◽

Residency Application ◽

The Impact ◽

Residency Match

Objectives: In addition to clinical and social disruption, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected many aspects of the otolaryngology residency application process. With delays in the 2021 Electronic Residency Applications Service (ERAS) timeline, students and programs have had more time to interact prior to the formal application process. This communication will report recent trends in social media presence by OHNS residency programs, and discuss mechanisms to compensate for decreased applicant-program interactions using social media ahead of the 2021 Match. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of the accredited otolaryngology residency programs in the United States, the number of social media profiles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook from 2009 to 2019 were recorded and compared. Results: Most programs (61%) have at least 1 social media profile. Over the past 10 years, the number of programs on social media has increased. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Twitter and Instagram showed higher rates of growth compared to Facebook. With the reduction of in-person opportunities for interactions, both applicants and programs are utilizing social media to showcase their values and their research. Twitter, in particular, also serves as a platform for professional networking. Conclusion: Both Twitter and Instagram are growing in popularity among programs and applicants to enhance networking. Social media is a powerful tool for networking and may help compensate for limitations imposed on the residency match process by the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining professionalism considerations. The impact of social media on the 2021 otolaryngology residency match is an evolving phenomenon.

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Teaching the residency application process to third-year medical students

Academic Medicine ◽

10.1097/00001888-198605000-00009 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 61 (5) ◽

pp. 406-8

Author(s):

D E Swee ◽

M R Stuart

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Application Process ◽

Residency Application

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