Proposed Changes to the 2021 Residency Application Process in the Wake of Covid-19

Bibliographic Data

ID21614659
AuthorsAndrew T Gabrielson (0000-0001-9971-9813, is a urology resident, The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland., corresponding author), Jaden R Kohn (0000-0002-5722-3761, is a gynecology and obstetrics resident, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.), Hayley T Sparks (is a pediatrics resident, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC.), Marisa M Clifton (is assistant professor, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, and director, urology residency program, The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.), Marisa Clifton (0000-0001-8345-6908, Johns Hopkins University), Taylor P Kohn (0000-0002-2807-4998, is a urology resident, The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.)
Year2020
Volume95
Issue9
Pages1346-1349
Publication date2020-09-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAcademic Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1040-2446 • E-ISSN: 1938-808X
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/acm.0000000000003520
PMID32459675
OpenAlexW3032794234
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited15

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unique challenges to the delivery of undergraduate medical education, particularly for current third-year medical students who are preparing to apply to residency. In mid-March, medical schools suspended all clinical rotations for the remainder of the 2019–2020 academic year. As such, third-year medical students may not be able to complete sufficient clinical experiences to make important career choices before they have to submit their residency applications. While the decision to suspend clinical rotations was necessary to protect students, specialty organizations and residency programs must mitigate the deficits in students’ clinical education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Perspective, the authors identify potential challenges for third-year medical students and advocate for solutions to improve the residency application process for students and programs. First, they propose delaying the date that programs can access applicant data through the Electronic Residency Application Service, thereby affording students more time to complete clinical experiences, solidify their specialty decision, and strengthen their residency application. Second, the authors recommend a restriction on the number of visiting rotations that students are expected to complete to allow for a more equitable distribution of these important experiences. Third, they suggest that program directors from each specialty agree on a maximum number of applications per applicant (based on historical data) to curb an upsurge in applications that may stem from the unique circumstances created by COVID-19 without causing applicants undue stress. Lastly, the authors advocate that residency programs develop infrastructure to conduct video-based interviews and engage students through virtual networking events. Amidst the unique environment created by COVID-19, the authors urge governing bodies, specialty organizations, and residency programs to consider these recommendations to improve the efficiency and reduce the stress surrounding the 2021 Match

Family medicine · Medical education · Medical school · MEDLINE · Pandemic · Political science · Specialty · Computer Science · Diversity and Career in Medicine · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Innovations in Medical Education · Medicine · Psychology

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