The #PedsMatch21 Webinar Series

Coordinated Specialty-Level Communication During the Virtual Residency Application Cycle

Bibliographic Data

ID21613578
AuthorsMekala Neelakantan (0000-0001-9580-9950, M. Neelakantanis a pediatric intern, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. At the time this project was conducted, she was a fourth-year medical student, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, Michigan., corresponding author), Nicholas M Heitkamp (0000-0002-2444-9262, N.M. Heitkampis a pediatric intern, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia. At the time this project was conducted, he was a fourth-year medical student, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.), Rebecca Blankenburg (0000-0002-1938-6113, Association of Pediatric Program Directors), John G Frohna (J.G. Frohnais professor (CHS), Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.)
Year2022
Volume97
Issue7
Pages1012-1016
Publication date2022-07-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAcademic Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1040-2446 • E-ISSN: 1938-808X
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/acm.0000000000004623
PMID35139529
OpenAlexW4211100964
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited5

PROBLEM: The landscape of pediatric medical education changed significantly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fourth-year medical students applying to pediatric residency programs were particularly affected by alterations to traditional away rotations, the inability to conduct in-person visits, and resulting changes in ways of communicating with residency programs. Applicants were concerned about the virtual component of the application cycle and worried as to how to manage the COVID-19-related changes. Program leaders also faced apprehension at how to close communication gaps and effectively use virtual tools to reach applicants. APPROACH: Founders of the Twitter-based @FuturePedsRes (FPR) organization recognized these concerns and developed a webinar series during the 2020-2021 academic year to create opportunities for programs and applicants to communicate. Leaders of the Association of Pediatric Program Directors and the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics joined as sponsors and co-hosts. The #PedsMatch21 webinar series consisted of 9 total webinars: 2 overviews, 5 regional, 1 for osteopathic students, and 1 for international medical graduates. OUTCOMES: A total of 138 pediatric residency programs across the country participated in the #PedsMatch21 webinar series. Each webinar brought in a mean of 431 attendees, from the United States and several other countries. Follow-up surveys immediately after each webinar and again at the end of the interview season demonstrated that the webinars decreased applicants' anxiety, provided helpful information on the virtual season, and increased their awareness of programs. NEXT STEPS: The #PedsMatch21 webinar series demonstrated utility in addressing applicants' concerns and allowing applicants access to a greater number of programs. Webinar-based strategies should be considered across all medical specialties as a useful method of providing accessible forums for programs and applicants

Apprehension · Family medicine · Medical education · Specialty · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Diversity and Career in Medicine · Medical Education and Admissions · Medicine · Psychology

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