Virtual Residency Interviews: A Survey of Anesthesiology Program Director Perspectives Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a rapid pivot from in-person to virtual residency interviews across the United States. We present a survey we conducted about the attitudes and opinions of anesthesiology program directors with regard to the 2021 virtual interview process.

This was a 13-question online survey disseminated to 142 anesthesiology residency program directors in February 2021, asking them to compare the most recent interview cycle to their experience with prior cycles.

There were 46 (37%) respondents. Generally, respondents saw an increase in applicants and reported perceiving worse interpersonal relationships with applicants, significantly so in programs with small resident classes.

Past research has focused on the benefits of virtual interviews for the applicant, but these should be evaluated in tandem with increased difficulties for the interviewers.