Increasing Underrepresented Minority Representation in a General Surgery Residency Program Utilizing a 3-Phase...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Residency Training
• Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare

Background:

• Underrepresented minority (URM) representation in surgery remains stagnant, despite evidence linking healthcare diversity to improved patient outcomes.
• Addressing disparities and enhancing healthcare delivery necessitates increased URM representation in surgical residency programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a structured, multi-phase strategy to increase URM representation in a general surgery residency program.
• To assess the impact of targeted recruitment and interview processes on URM applicant success.

Main Methods:

• A three-phase strategy was implemented, including holistic review for interview selection, implicit bias training for interviewers, and revised interview scoring.
• Post-interview recruitment efforts featured a virtual second look event specifically for URM applicants.
• The study utilized a retrospective design to analyze changes in URM representation.

Main Results:

• The URM match rate increased from 0% to 33.3% in the first year post-intervention and was sustained in the second year.
• Overall URM representation in the general surgery residency program rose from 6.7% to 13.3%.
• The implemented strategies demonstrated a significant positive impact on URM recruitment.

Conclusions:

• A structured, targeted recruitment approach effectively enhanced URM representation in a surgical residency program.
• Promoting diversity and inclusion in surgical training programs can lead to a workforce that better mirrors the community served.
• These findings support the success of intentional strategies in fostering a more equitable surgical field and improving patient care.