key: cord-0821050-td1aheay
authors: Rosman, Ilana S.; Schadt, Courtney R.; Samimi, Sara S.; Rosenbach, Misha
title: Approaching the dermatology residency application process during a pandemic
date: 2020-07-21
journal: J Am Acad Dermatol
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.07.066
sha: d7eec1de0d7b259ead7330215127e5dc4ef4b5d9
doc_id: 821050
cord_uid: td1aheay

nan

Approaching the dermatology residency application process during a pandemic 1 Ilana S. Rosman, MD, FAAD, 1 Courtney R. Schadt, MD, FAAD, 2 Sara S. Samimi, MD, FAAD, 3 Given the ongoing crisis, we suggest changes to the application and recruitment process for 53 academic dermatology programs around the country to consider. 54

• Away rotations: We recommend dermatology programs reserve away rotation 55 opportunities for students without home-institution dermatology options and 56 encourage such students to seek rotations with the closest dermatology practice or 57 program. Additionally, we encourage creation of "virtual" experiences to allow for 58 recruitment of students from other institutions. These may be non-credit bearing, 59 shorter in length than typical rotations, and include a variety of activities, including but 60 not limited to: participation in virtual educational conferences, remote panels or 61 meetings with selected faculty and residents, teledermatology clinical care, and virtual 62 tours of facilities. 63

• Interview process: We strongly recommend that programs develop plans for remote 64 interviews via currently available videoconferencing platforms. The capacity to conduct 65 remote interviews will be critical moving forward, even beyond the current pandemic 66 situation by reducing student costs (which may aid in recruiting applicants from broader 67 socioeconomic backgrounds), allowing for greater scheduling flexibility, and aligning 68 with environmentally sound practices in light of the climate crisis. 69

As program directors, we understand the difficulty in enacting novel and possibly temporary 71 policies. We also sympathize with the inclination for a "wait and see" approach as parts of the 72 country relax physical distancing and shelter-in-place orders. However, application season is 73 upon us, and with the likelihood of the pandemic continuing in some capacity for the next 74 5 several months, it is imperative that we take a proactive approach. Expecting students to travel 75 during an overlapping Covid-19 and influenza season risks their health, and risks exposure and 76 transmission of infection to faculty and residents. We propose the above suggestions be 77 adopted broadly to alleviate medical student concerns, address potential inequities in applicant 78 opportunities, and implement socially responsible measures that will position us well for future 79 challenges. 80 81

Outcomes-in-the-Match-2018-Seniors.pdf. Chart 3, page 5

National Resident Matching Program. Results of the

Figure D-1 and D-2

Specialty Response to Covid-19

Coalition for Physician Accountability Publishes Recommendations on Movement Across 92 Institutional for 2020-2021

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