Issue Six 2023 Editor's Pick

 

Happy New Year!

 

As one year comes to a close and a new year begins, we in academic medicine are deep into recruitment season and starting to think about the rank lists that will be due before we know it. In Academic Emergency Medicine Education and Training’s final issue for 2023, Li-Sauerwine and colleagues evaluate the factors that influenced emergency medicine residency applicants rank list preferences during the 2020-2021 recruitment cycle. As you will recall, this was the first year that emergency medicine residency applicants participated in virtual interviews secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The authors surveyed applicants that had applied to at least one of seven U.S. emergency medicine residency programs. The survey was developed and piloted on first-year emergency medicine residents before being sent to the 2020-2021 applicants. The survey had a response rate just under 30%. Researchers identified the following themes: Virtual interviews had logistical benefits over in-person interviews and being interviewed in a known environment decreased stress; negative aspects included technical challenges, perceived diminished interview opportunities secondary to hoarding by some applicants, challenges to perform well and be authentic, as well as differentiate themselves from other applicants. 

Based on the survey findings, the team was able to develop a list of items that most influenced the applicants’ emergency medicine residency program rank order list. Program website and interview social ranked highest on the list of recruitment-related factors important to the applicants as they developed their rank list.

I encourage you to take the time to read The more things change the more they stay the same: Factors influencing emergency medicine residency selection in the virtual era. I am confident you will find some tips to help enhance your recruitment or help advise a student.

Susan B. Promes, MD, MBA
Penn State College of Medicine
Editor-in-Chief