Virtual Interviews and Their Effect on Cognitive Load for Graduate Medical Education Applicants and Programs

The impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has dramatically affected virtually all aspects of health care use, including patient care, research, and education. Among the groups affected were prospective applicants to graduate medical education training programs. To ensure a safe and equitable process for residency and fellowship application, multiple accrediting bodies strongly recommended that training programs conduct fellowship and residency interviews in a virtual format. With little experience in virtual interviewing, most programs, including ours, were compelled to make substantial changes to the traditional interview format. We present some of the unanticipated challenges we experienced with virtual interviewing in the context of cognitive load theory. We use cognitive load theory to highlight why the challenges existed. We also offer practical tips to minimize the cognitive load experienced with virtual interviewing so that trainees and programs alike derive maximal benefit when using virtual communication platforms.