Local Culture and Community Through a Digital Lens: Viewpoint on Designing and Implementing a Virtual Second Look...

Area of Science:

• Graduate Medical Education
• Residency Recruitment
• Virtual Events

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated shifts in residency interview formats.
• Web-based interviews are often perceived as less effective than in-person experiences.
• Showcasing program location and community is vital for recruitment but challenging digitally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a virtual second look event for residency applicants.
• To highlight the benefits of living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
• To enhance recruitment and ensure successful residency matches.

Main Methods:

• A pilot virtual second look event was conducted for child neurology, neurology, and family medicine programs.
• Panel discussions featured community leaders and residents discussing local life, arts, dining, and recreation.
• The 2-hour Zoom event included post-event feedback assessments via REDCap.

Main Results:

• 51 individuals registered, with 28 providing positive feedback.
• Respondents found the session valuable, well-organized, and met expectations.
• All respondents gained new information not acquired during initial interviews.

Conclusions:

• The virtual second look successfully showcased the benefits of Winston-Salem and resident perspectives.
• A key area for improvement is allocating more time for applicant questions to community leaders and residents.
• The program is reproducible and can be expanded to a graduate medical education-wide event.