Child Abuse Pediatrics Fellowship Recruitment: Interview Structure and the Use of Multidisciplinary Interviewers

Graduate medical education (GME) programs aim to improve equity, reduce bias, and assess applicants holistically, yet implementation of evidence-based interview practices varies. Multidisciplinary collaboration is foundational to many medical specialties, especially child abuse pediatrics (CAP), but the extent to which multidisciplinary perspectives are incorporated into fellowship interviews is not well described. This study aims to describe fellowship interview structures, the use of multidisciplinary interviewers, and the factors influencing applicant ranking in CAP.

A national cross-sectional survey of all CAP fellowship program directors (PDs) was conducted in 2023 regarding the 2022-2023 interview season. Eligible participants included PDs from all 33 accredited CAP fellowship programs. The survey assessed interview structure, use of standardized practices, interviewer composition, and factors influencing applicant ranking. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize responses.

Seventeen of 33 eligible PDs responded (52%). Interview structures varied, with inconsistent use of standardized questions (10/17, 59%), scoring rubrics (6/17, 35%), blinded interviews (5/17, 29%), and formal interviewer training (8/17, 47%). Most programs (10/17, 59%) incorporated interviewers outside the core physician faculty, most commonly social workers (9/17, 53%), advanced practice providers (7/17, 41%), and current fellows (6/17, 35%). Interview quality and recommendation letters from CAP faculty were among the most influential factors in ranking applicants, whereas publications were the least influential.

Fellowship interview practices demonstrate substantial variability, including inconsistent application of evidence-based methods. The frequent use of multidisciplinary interviewers suggests an emerging recruitment approach aligned with interprofessional care models that may have relevance across GME settings.