Open AccessOtolaryngology Residency Interviews in a Socially Distanced World: Strategies to Recruit and Assess Applicants
Author(s) -
Chou David W.,
Pletcher Steven D.,
Bruss David,
Sung C. Kwang,
Diaz Rodney C.,
Liang Jonathan,
Durr Megan L.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599820957961
Subject(s) - medical education , perspective (graphical) , adaptability , otorhinolaryngology , covid-19 , pandemic , resilience (materials science) , public relations , psychology , medicine , political science , computer science , management , physics , disease , pathology , artificial intelligence , psychiatry , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , thermodynamics
Due to concerns surrounding travel during the COVID‐19 pandemic, the 2020‐2021 otolaryngology residency application cycle will be conducted virtually for the first time. Residency programs should consider the logistics of video interviews, drawing on experiences of other programs that have successfully performed virtual interviews in the past. The lack of in‐person interviews will create challenges in assessing applicants, and we recommend that programs develop structured and targeted questions and even consider having candidates answer standardized questions prior to the virtual interview day. From an applicant perspective, gauging the intangibles of individual residency programs, such as resident camaraderie, program culture, and program location, will be difficult. To address this, programs should consider hosting informal virtual gatherings, create videos that highlight the resident experience, and ensure that program websites are up‐to‐date. Ultimately, adaptability, resilience, and innovation will allow residency programs to achieve a successful 2021 otolaryngology match.