Assessing the Outcomes of the Initial Virtual Breast Imaging Fellowship Interview Season

To assess breast imaging fellowship program directors' perspectives of the outcomes of the first-ever virtual interview season. A 19-question survey was constructed by members of the Fellowship Match Committee of the Society of Breast Imaging and distributed via email to 103 program directors. An initial email with a link to the survey was distributed on May 17, 2023, with 2 reminder emails sent on May 31, 2023, and June 20, 2023. The survey was closed on June 26, 2023. Results were compiled, and a descriptive statistical analysis was performed using Excel. There were 36 total responses yielding a response rate of 35% (36/103). The majority of programs, 61% (22/36), did not fill positions with any internal candidates. Overall, 72% answered that the perception of their fellow's performance was equal to or higher than those in prior years. Despite the effects of the pandemic on clinical exposure for this cohort, 73% of programs stated that the fellow's foundational knowledge was equivalent or better. Remarkably, 81% of respondents stated that procedural skills were equivalent or better, and 78% stated that communication skills were equivalent or better. This is the first study to investigate the outcomes of the unexpected pivot to virtual interviews. Despite the lack of preparation for this operational shift, it does not appear to have negatively impacted the program directors' impressions of their matched fellows.