Perspectives on the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Application Process During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Medical Education
• Residency Application Process

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional medical residency application processes, particularly in orthopaedic surgery.
• Cancellation of away rotations and in-person interviews significantly altered applicant experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the perspectives of orthopaedic surgery applicants and program directors (PDs) on the residency application cycle during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To assess the impact of virtual experiences on the application process and applicant confidence.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing two independent surveys distributed to orthopaedic surgery applicants and PDs.
• Surveys were conducted between February and March 2021, addressing virtual experiences and application factors.

Main Results:

• Applicants reported reduced clinical exposure and fewer interviews despite applying to more programs.
• Virtual away rotations led to fewer interview invitations, and social aspects of residency programs were not well replicated virtually.
• Program directors continued to prioritize away rotation performance, clinical performance, and board scores for interviews.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges for orthopaedic surgery residency applications, diminishing applicant confidence.
• Virtual application components failed to adequately substitute for in-person interactions and social elements vital for applicant decision-making.
• Traditional metrics remained paramount for program directors in candidate selection despite the shift to virtual formats.