Multicenter Study of Optional In-Person Visits to Residency Programs After Virtual Interviews

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Residency Recruitment
• Virtual Interviewing

Background:

• Virtual interviewing offers cost savings and promotes equity in residency recruitment compared to in-person methods.
• Residency applicants often perceive in-person visits as crucial for informed decision-making regarding program rank lists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of optional in-person visits for residency applicants after virtual interviews and rank list finalization.
• To gather stakeholder opinions on the value, equity, and potential drawbacks of this hybrid recruitment model.

Main Methods:

• Six internal medicine residency programs implemented virtual recruitment followed by optional in-person visits post-rank list finalization.
• Surveys were administered to interviewed applicants, program directors, and administrators to assess their perceptions of the recruitment process.

Main Results:

• 10.3% of interviewed applicants participated in optional in-person visits.
• 88% of surveyed applicants supported offering similar optional visits in the future, with 75% deeming the process equitable.
• 96.5% of attendees found the in-person visit valuable, and all program directors approved of the model.

Conclusions:

• A significant majority of applicants and program directors favor offering in-person visits after rank list finalization.
• The hybrid recruitment model, combining virtual and optional in-person elements, is perceived as equitable by most participants.