Successful Applicant and Program Director Perspectives on the Virtual Residency Selection Process for Canadian Surgical Subspecialties

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic imparted an important shift in strategies postgraduate surgical programs use to recruit, interact with, and select medical students applying through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). With this unprecedented shift toward virtual applicant selection, this study sought to explore and analyze perspectives of the first cohort of program directors (PDs) and applicants who participated in this process. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was designed using Google Forms for both PDs and applicants participating in the 2021 CaRMS surgical subspecialty selection process. Questions pertained to format and content of virtual engagement methods, the interview itself, as well as advice for future applicants. Results: Thirty-five PDs and 40 successful applicants (n = 75) participated in the study. Cost reduction was the most commonly reported benefit of online interviewing by PDs (85%), followed by efficiency (71%), enhanced resource management (49%), and ability to conduct more interviews (23%). Strong letters of reference (80%) and interview performance (74%) remained the most significant factors in virtual applicant selection. Attendance to virtual recruitment events did not increase the likelihood of offering interviews (n = 24, 69% of PDs), although the ability to perform in-person electives held tremendous value. Most applicants (90%) reported on virtual information sessions as the best method for learning about programs; work culture and environment were topics most valued as discussion points (90%). Successful applicants provided an average confidence of 76% regarding their suitability with their matched programs. Seventy-three percent of applicants (n = 29) had either a preference for virtual interviews or were equivocal, while 51.4% of PDs (n = 18) preferred interviews to be conducted virtually for future cohorts. Conclusion: Trainees are entering residency with confidence following a virtual selection process, and PDs feel confident in their selections. Although no clear consensus exists regarding preference for virtual or in-person interviews, several advantages for virtual resident selection exist. The influence of an in-person elective was found difficult to replace, regardless of interview format. The importance of applicant engagement with programs prior to interviews is highlighted and discussed with recommendations provided for best practices.