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Microsurgery Fellowship Website and Social Media Presence: Are Programs Optimizing Recruitment Strategy?
Andrew Atia1, Hannah C Langdell1, Andrew Hollins1
1Division of Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery
|September 29, 2020
Summary
Microsurgery fellowship websites offer limited information for applicants, hindering recruitment. Improving website content and social media presence is crucial for attracting future microsurgeons.
Area of Science:
- Microsurgery Training
- Surgical Education
- Medical Fellowship Recruitment
Background:
- Microsurgery fellowship applicants rely on program websites and social media for training decisions.
- Evaluating the accessibility and quality of information on microsurgery fellowship program websites (MFWs) is essential for effective recruitment.
- Analysis of web resources and social media is needed to understand applicant information access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the accessibility and quality of information provided on microsurgery fellowship program websites.
- To evaluate the social media presence of microsurgery fellowship programs.
- To identify opportunities for improving recruitment through enhanced online information dissemination.
Main Methods:
- Queried San Francisco (SF) Match and American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery websites for participating microsurgery fellowship programs (MFPs) in April 2020.
- Assessed 22 independent variables on MFWs based on established criteria.
- Analyzed social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) for hospitals, plastic surgery residency programs, and MFPs.
Main Results:
- All 24 MFWs had webpages with program descriptions, faculty, operative volume, and eligibility criteria.
- Information on conference schedules, current/previous fellows, and their positions was sparsely provided.
- Hospitals actively used social media, but MFPs had minimal presence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Conclusions:
- Microsurgery fellowship program websites offer limited information, presenting a missed recruitment opportunity.
- Enhancing the quality and accessibility of information on MFWs is vital for attracting top talent.
- Increased social media engagement by MFPs could improve applicant outreach and program visibility.
