Interview Without Harm: Reimagining Medical Training's Financially and Environmentally Costly Interview Practices

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Environmental Sustainability
• Healthcare Systems

Background:

• Academia's reliance on emissions-intensive travel conflicts with climate change mitigation goals.
• The COVID-19 pandemic forced a transition to virtual interviews in medical education, revealing its feasibility.
• Environmental impact has been overlooked in discussions about the future of medical training interviews.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the permanent adoption of virtual interviews in medical education.
• To highlight the environmental, financial, and efficiency benefits of virtual interviews.
• To propose solutions for addressing challenges associated with virtual interviews.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the shift to virtual interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Evaluation of the environmental, economic, and time-related impacts of interview formats.
• Review of potential challenges and solutions for virtual interview implementation.

Main Results:

• Virtual interviews demonstrated resilience, innovation, and satisfaction among participants.
• Virtual interviews offer significant environmental, financial, and efficiency advantages over in-person formats.
• Concerns like interview inflation can be managed with structural solutions.

Conclusions:

• The pandemic-induced restructuring of medical training interviews presents an opportunity for lasting reform.
• Prioritizing sustainability and equity in the interview process aligns with public health goals.
• Medical education leadership should embrace virtual interviews to reduce environmental impact and enhance accessibility.