Role of the interview in admissions at the University of Toronto ophthalmology program.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of the residency interview in admission to the University of Toronto ophthalmology program. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and sixty-nine candidates for admission to the University of Toronto ophthalmology program, 1998-2008. METHODS: Admissions scores were analyzed retrospectively to determine how the interview affected final candidate rank. Interviewers were not blinded to the candidates' applications. Candidate impressions of interview day were investigated through 2 surveys conducted in 2000 and 2005. Twenty-six of the 33 interviewed candidates responded, for a response rate of 79%. RESULTS: Pre-interview rank was found to correlate with final rank (r = 0.826, p < 0.001, n = 169, 2-tailed) and interview rank (r = 0.426, p < 0.001). Interview rank was also independently correlated with final rank (r = 0.774, p < 0.001). Half the candidates had final ranks within 1 of their pre-interview rank, and 80% were within 3 ranks. The range of rank change was from a loss of 10 ranks to a gain of 11. Survey responses demonstrated that candidates found the interview experience very valuable (14/14) and that it affected their opinion of the program positively (20/26). CONCLUSIONS: While the interview frequently does not substantially change candidate rank order, the occasional large changes suggest that it has the power to make corrections to application scores should they be necessary. The nonblinded design allows interviewers to ask candidates questions specific to their application, resulting in more profound discussion. The surveys show that candidates find the interview to be a valuable experience and likely results in them ranking Toronto's program higher in the match.

Comparing a traditional single optotype visual acuity test with a computer-based visual acuity test for childhood amblyopia vision screening: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of a traditional flip-chart optotype test, the Sheridan Gardiner test (SGT), in measuring visual acuity and detecting amblyopia, compared with a free, computer-based test (CBT), LazyeyeTest.org. DESIGN: Prospective, masked, cross-over study. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy kindergarten-aged children from a downtown Toronto elementary school enrolled in the Kids2See vision screening program. METHODS: Visual acuity in the children was measured monocularly using both tests. The visual acuity results, number of referrals, and outcomes of referrals were compared, as was the usability from the perspective of the child and the vision screener. RESULTS: The children were more likely to score low visual acuity values with the CBT, a result predicted by the existence of crowding bars on the CBT's optotypes. The CBT referred an extra 5 children than the SGT, and of the 4 who saw an ophthalmologist 2 had amblyopia. The SGT referred one child not referred by the CBT. The Cohen's kappa coefficient was 0.67 and the difference in referral rates was not significant (p = 0.13). Relative to the SGT, the sensitivity of the CBT was 88%, specificity was 92%, positive predictive value was 58%, and negative predictive value was 98%. The CBT appeared to be easier and more efficient to administer, more stimulating, and was preferred by the children. CONCLUSIONS: Replacing the SGT with LazyeyeTest.org would increase the efficiency and likely the sensitivity of amblyopia screening. Further research is warranted to confirm the outcomes and to determine if the CBT can be administered accurately by lay screeners.

Medical students' attitudes on diversity when applying to Toronto's ophthalmology residency program.

BACKGROUND: Affirmative action is a controversial admissions policy practised by universities in the United States and other countries around the world. It is currently not used at the University of Toronto ophthalmology residency program. A survey was conducted to determine the opinions of applicants as to the role that affirmative action and quotas should play during the admissions process and to determine the current ethnic breakdown of the applicants to ophthalmology. METHODS: A survey of 14 questions was sent out to all 72 medical students applying for a residency position in our program. The response rate was 58%. The students were asked to agree or disagree on a 5-point Likert scale with statements related to ethnicity, gender, and whether affirmative action policies exist or should exist for certain groups. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents (26/42, 62%) considered themselves an ethnic minority, and 57% (24/42) considered themselves a visible minority. Most (32/42) felt that the sex of the applicant should not play a role in the selection process. Only 24% (10/42) supported affirmative action, and only 12% (5/42) supported quotas for minority applicants. INTERPRETATION: The majority of survey respondents in this study did not support affirmative action or quotas at the University of Toronto ophthalmology program. The applicants to this program represent a diverse group of individuals from a multitude of ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds, and, in their average opinion, affirmative action policies would not benefit our admissions program.

Conformation of alkanes in the gas phase and pure liquids.

Monte Carlo (MC) statistical mechanics simulations have been carried out for the homologous alkane series of n-butane through n-dodecane in the gas phase and for the pure liquids at 298 K and 1 atm using the OPLS-AA force field. The study addresses potential cumulative deviations of computed properties and potential conformational differences between the gas phase and pure liquids, for example, from self-solvation in the gas phase. The average errors in comparison with experimental data for the computed densities and heats of vaporization are modest at 0.7% and 6.9%, respectively. Also, the invariant gas and liquid-phase results for average end-to-end distances and percentages of trans conformations for each nonterminal C-C bond assert that the conformer populations are not altered upon transfer from the gas phase to the pure liquid for the n-alkanes in this size range. Average end-to-end distances were also computed from the results of conformational searches and corroborated the MC findings. Quantitatively, the OPLS-AA result for the trans population of the C3-C4 bond in n-undecane is in close agreement with the findings from (13)C NMR experiments. Finally, previous work on determining the shortest n-alkane that does not have an all-trans global energy minimum has been extended. The smallest n-alkane with a hairpin geometry that is lower in energy than the all-trans conformer occurs for C(22)H(46) with OPLS-AA, though with a correction for GG sequences, the true turning point is likely in the C(16)-C(18) range.