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The Impact of COVID-19 on the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Application Process
Amiethab A Aiyer1, Caroline J Granger, Kyle L McCormick
1From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Miami (Dr. Aiyer, Ms. Granger and Dr. Dodds), Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY (Dr. McCormick and Dr. Levine), the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University, St Louis, MO (Dr. Cipriano), the Hoag Orthopaedic Specialty Institute, Orange, CA (Dr. Kaplan), and the Penn Highlands Healthcare System, Du Bois, PA (Dr. Varacallo).
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacts medical residency applications, especially for orthopaedic surgery. Strategies are needed for medical students to navigate changes in the application process and prepare for program inquiries.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered medical practice and training.
- Medical students face uncertainty regarding the residency application process.
- The 2020-2021 cycle integrates allopathic and osteopathic matches, adding complexity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the orthopaedic surgery residency application process.
- To provide strategies for medical students to adapt to the altered application landscape.
- To prepare applicants for potential program inquiries about their time during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on pandemic effects on medical training.
- Analysis of the integrated residency match system.
- Discussion of adaptive strategies for residency applicants.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 presents unforeseen challenges to the competitive residency application process.
- Residency programs may question applicants on their activities during pandemic-related disruptions.
- Adaptation and strategic preparation are crucial for successful applications.
Conclusions:
- Medical students must develop strategies to navigate the COVID-19-influenced residency application.
- Understanding and addressing pandemic-related changes is vital for orthopaedic surgery applicants.
- Proactive preparation for program interviews regarding pandemic experiences is recommended.
Abstract:
Over recent months, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has swept the world as a global pandemic, largely changing the practice of medicine as it was previously known. Physician trainees have not been immune to these changes-uncertainty during this time is undeniable for medical students at all levels of training. Of particular importance is the potential impact of COVID-19 on the upcoming residency application process for rising fourth-year students; a further source of added complexity in light of the newly integrated allopathic and osteopathic match in the 2020 to 2021 cycle. Owing to the impact COVID-19 could have on the residency match, insight regarding inevitable alterations to the application process and how medical students can adapt is in high demand. Furthermore, it is very possible that programs will inquire about how applicants spent their time while not in the hospital because of COVID-19, and applicants should be prepared to provide a meaningful answer. Although competitive at a basal level, the complexity of COVID-19 now presents an unforeseen, superimposed development in the quest to match. In this article, we aim to discuss and provide potential strategies for navigating the impact of COVID-19 on the residency application process for orthopaedic surgery.
