key: cord-1054528-krl8m9qr
authors: Kearns, Donovan G.; Uppal, Shelley; Chat, Vipawee S.; Wu, Jashin J.
title: Reply to Letter to the Editor Regarding: “Applying to dermatology residency during the COVID-19 pandemic”
date: 2020-09-30
journal: J Am Acad Dermatol
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.09.069
sha: 3c65b96ce7fde1eb73f35e8e8f7cc52f99f30f78
doc_id: 1054528
cord_uid: krl8m9qr

nan

We appreciate the continued discourse by Alia et al regarding our article "Applying to dermatology residency during the COVID-19 pandemic" that highlighted the novel challenges dermatology residency applicants are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1 In addition to the issues facing all applicants this cycle, their response to our article highlighted groups of students that are particularly disadvantaged this cycle. 2 We agree that geographically constrained students without a home dermatology program will be at a significant disadvantage this cycle by their lack of an in-person rotation. At a national webinar hosted by the Dermatology Interest Group Association and Association of Professors of Dermatology to address applicants' concerns in the era of the COVID-19 Pandemic, 1/4 of attendees interested in dermatology reported not have a home program. 3 Because these rotations allow students that may look less competitive "on paper" to exhibit their strengths in person, there will be less of an opportunity for them to make positive impressions, showcase their clinical skills, and demonstrate their fit with programs. As one means to compensate for this, we suggest that programs take note of students that were unable to secure an in-person rotation and make a sincere effort to holistically review their application, paying attention to strengths in their application outside the historically overvalued metrics of USMLE scores. Additionally, these students should make every effort to secure a virtual rotation as they will still offer an opportunity to build academic relations and display interest and dedication to the field.

We also believe that students with "weaker" academic records will face additional difficulty during this application cycle. Because the majority of interactions between programs and students will occur virtually this year, there will likely be more weight given to aspects of a student's ERAS application, including academic standing, test scores, and research accomplishments. Students whose strengths lie outside normative metrics (i.e. USMLE scores) may be overlooked if programs do not make an active effort to review applicants holistically. This includes taking into account the psycho-social-economic background of applicants and looking into other unique aspects of student's applications, including extracurricular efforts such as volunteering and community outreach. COVID-19 may also disproportionately disadvantage dermatology applicants underrepresented in medicine, which should be accounted for during the residency selection process. 4 In addition to paying special attention to applicants' individuality and distinguishing characteristics this cycle, 2 we recommend the consideration of hardships that applicants have overcome.

In order to overcome the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this application cycle will require creativity and flexibility from both programs and applicants, alike. Students must be persistent in trying to make connections wherever possible and should use their ERAS application to highlight their personal strengths they wish to showcase. Programs should make accommodations for students particularly disenfranchised by the pandemic and must commit to a fair evaluation of student applications. In doing this, we can overcome many of the

faced during this application cycle, and ultimately, help to make positive and lasting changes in the way dermatology applicants are selected

Applying to dermatology residency during the COVID-19 pandemic

Applying to dermatology residency during the COVID-19 pandemic

A national webinar for dermatology applicants during the COVID-19 pandemic

Considerations for dermatology residency applicants underrepresented in medicine amid the COVID-19 pandemic