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. 2021 Sep 1;27(9):575-580.
doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000982.

Virtual Interviews During COVID-19: Perspectives of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Program Directors

Kimia Menhaji  1 , Bertille Ha Gaigbe-Togbe  1 , Anne Hardart  1 , Anthony H Bui  2 , Sarah E Andiman  1 , Charles J Ascher-Walsh  1 , Lisa Dabney  1 , Ann Do Tran  1
Affiliations

Virtual Interviews During COVID-19: Perspectives of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Program Directors

Kimia Menhaji et al. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. .

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (FPMRS) fellowship program directors' opinions regarding the effectiveness of virtual interviews for selecting fellows and their future interview mode preferences.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional online survey of all FPMRS program directors in the United States conducted from April 29, 2020, to May 30, 2020. At the time of this study, there were 73 program directors and 69 obstetrics and gynecology and urology-accredited FPMRS programs nationwide. The primary outcome was to subjectively assess the effectiveness of virtual interviews as compared with in-person interviews for evaluating applicants.

Results: Fifty seven (82.6%) of the program directors completed the survey. A total of 80.7% (46/57) of the respondents had participated in interviews for the active match cycle. Of the programs that participated in the interview process, almost all conducted interviews using virtual platforms (97.8%, 45/46). Program directors who conducted interviews virtually found them effective in evaluating applicants (88.9%, 40/45) and were satisfied with the virtual interview process (86.7%, 39/45). A total of 31.1% of respondents (14/45) preferred a virtual platform to an in-person setting for future interviews, and 60% (27/45) reported that they will likely perform future interviews virtually.

Conclusions: Although the pandemic resulted in a sudden reformatting of FPMRS fellowship interviews, most program directors nationally were satisfied with the process and found virtual interviews effective for assessing applicants. More than 50% of FPMRS program directors are likely to consider the virtual format for future interviews.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart. PDs, program directors.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
A, Percentage of program directors that found virtual interviews effective versus ineffective. B, Percentage of program directors that were satisfied versus dissatisfied with virtual interviews. C, Percentage of program directors that found organizing virtual interviews easy versus difficult.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Program directors' preference and likelihood to conduct future fellowship interviews using virtual platforms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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