Should Radiology Residency Interviews Remain Virtual? Results of a Multi-institutional Survey Inform the Debate.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The recent completion of the inaugural virtual interview season has triggered calls for the permanency of virtual interviews in the radiology resident selection process. We designed a study to assess the inaugural 2020-2021 virtual interview season and inform the anticipated debate on the future of radiology residency interviews. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four and 39-question survey instruments developed for program directors (PDs) and applicants, respectively, were distributed through the Radiology Residency Education Research Alliance to measure the demographics, experiences with technology, attitudes toward the virtual interview season and attitudes about proposed changes to the interview process. Comparisons were made between demographics and survey queries. RESULTS: PD and applicant response rates were 74% (25/34) and 45% (84/186), respectively. Eighty percent (20/25) of PDs and 76% (64/84) of applicants described the virtual interview season as excellent or very good. Sixty percent of PDs agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "The benefits of the virtual interview season outweighed the drawbacks," while 24% disagreed or strongly disagreed, and 16% were neutral. Among applicants, 80% agreed or strongly agreed, 10% disagreed or strongly disagreed, and 10% were neutral toward the same statement. Ninety-two percent of PDs noted that their rank order list performed the same or better than in years prior. Both PDs and applicants identified applicant equity and wellness as major benefits of virtual interviews, while identifying over-application and interview hoarding as significant detriments. CONCLUSION: The virtual interview provides an adequate substitute for the conventional in-person residency interview, with real and perceived benefits to applicant wellness, equity, and financial well-being. The downsides of virtual interviews, namely over-application and interview hoarding, have workable solutions.

From Beginning to End: A Single Radiology Residency Program's Experience with Web-Based Resident Recruitment during COVID-19 and a Review of the Literature.

COVID-19 disrupted the practice of in-person visits for the 2020-2021 recruitment cycle. This past year, Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs converted to online interviews and virtual visits for all applicants. Given the unpredictable nature of this pandemic, it remains unclear when or if conventional travel for residency interviews will resume. Therefore, it is important to reflect on this past season and look ahead to our next recruitment and interview cycle. Here, we review prior publications studying faculty and applicant experiences with web-based interviewing strategies, and we describe our own residency program's recruitment strategy for a virtual interview season, including survey results of reactions by both interviewers and candidates following our first season in this new era of virtual meetings and interviews. Web-based recruitment and interviews are feasible and can be done well with careful planning and preparation of those involved. Concerns persist primarily among applicants that virtual visits to a training program are inadequate for providing sufficient information prior to ranking. Regardless of future travel restrictions, GME programs will likely benefit all stakeholders by offering web-based recruitment and interviews, while also providing opportunities for optional in-person visits.