Website mission statements of dermatology residency programs: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Dermatology Training
• Residency Programs

Background:

• Increased demand for transparency in dermatology residency programs.
• Program websites are a key area for improvement.
• Mission statements can aid applicant decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and content of mission statements on ACGME-accredited dermatology residency program websites.
• To analyze the categories and common keywords used in these statements.

Main Methods:

• Websites of 143 ACGME-accredited dermatology residencies were reviewed (August 9-21, 2022).
• Mission statements were categorized by inclusion of mission, vision, virtue/value, aims, and goals.
• Keyword analysis was performed on the content of the statements.

Main Results:

• 93.0% of programs were included in the study.
• Only 46.15% of programs utilized at least one mission statement category on their websites; 53.85% used none.
• The "mission" category was most common (39.85%), while "vision" was least common (3.01%). Common keywords included "care," "dermatology," "residents," "knowledge," and "provide."

Conclusions:

• A significant number of dermatology residency programs do not provide mission statements on their websites.
• Explicit mission statements can enhance program planning and assist applicants in aligning with career aspirations.
• Standardizing and clearly articulating program missions can improve transparency and applicant guidance.