Unmasking the Environmental Costs of In-Person General Surgery Residency Interviews

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Medical Education
• Public Health

Background:

• The debate on virtual vs. in-person residency interviews often overlooks environmental impact.
• Limited survey data exists on the carbon footprint of surgical residency recruitment travel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate carbon emissions from air travel for general surgery residency recruitment interviews.
• To inform decisions on interview modalities by quantifying environmental impact.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study using 2022-2023 Thalamus data for general surgery residency interviews.
• Estimated carbon emissions (Scope 3, travel) based on applicant and program locations using Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
• Included interviews requiring travel of 150 miles or more.

Main Results:

• Analyzed 5989 interviews from 2369 applicants and 65 programs.
• Estimated total carbon dioxide emissions of 3502.04 tons for the season.
• Equivalent to 3.9 million pounds of coal burned or 441 homes' annual energy use.

Conclusions:

• In-person general surgery interviews generate substantial environmental impact solely from air travel.
• Environmental considerations should be integrated with cost, equity, and fit when choosing interview formats.