Orthopedic Surgery Applicants: What They Want in an Interview and How They Are Influenced by Post–Interview Contact

Christopher L Camp; Paul L Sousa; Arlen D Hanssen; Matthew D Karam; George J Haidukewych; Daniel A Oakes; Norman S Turner

doi:10.1016/j.jsurg.2016.03.009

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Orthopedic Surgery Applicants: What They Want in an Interview and How They Are Influenced by Post–Interview Contact

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Orthopedic Surgery Applicants: What They Want in an Interview and How They Are Influenced by Post–Interview Contact

Christopher L Camp, Paul L Sousa, Arlen D Hanssen, Matthew D Karam, George J Haidukewych, Daniel A Oakes and Norman S Turner

Journal of surgical education, Vol.73(4), pp.709-714

07/2016

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2016.03.009

PMID: 27137662

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Abstract

Common strategies for orthopedic residency programs to attract competitive applicants include optimizing the interview day and contacting favorably ranked applicants postinterview. The purpose of this work was to determine (1) applicants’ perspectives on the ideal interview day, (2) how frequently applicants are contacted postinterview, and (3) the influence of this contact on rank order lists (ROL). Prospective Comparative Survey Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rochester, MN, USA A survey was completed by 312 successfully matched orthopedic surgery residency applicants following the 2015 match regarding their views of the ideal interview day, components they valued most, post–interview contact, and how that contact influenced their ROL. Applicants stated they preferred interviews that lasted 15 (55%) minutes, a mean of 1.7 (range: 1-5) interviewers present per interview, 5 total interviews (range: 1-10) in a day, an interview with residents (96%), and interviews days lasting only a half day (88%). The majority (94%) desire a social event attended by only residents (54%) or staff and residents (46%). Few wanted an assessment of surgical skills (36%) or orthopedic knowledge (23%). The interview day was rated very valuable in determining their ROL (4.4 out of 5.0). Applicants told a mean of 1.7 (range: 0-11) programs they were “ranking the program highly” and 0.8 (range: 0-5) programs they were “going to rank them #1.” Of the 116 (40%) applicants contacted by programs following interviews, 24 (21%) moved programs higher and 3 (3%) moved programs lower on their ROL. Orthopedic Surgery applicants have clear preferences for what they consider to be the ideal interview day and many alter their ROL following post–interview contact. These data may be beneficial to programs looking to optimize the interview experience for applicants.

cost

medical students

orthopedic surgery

Systems-Based Practice

residency application

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Professionalism

Details

Title: Subtitle: Orthopedic Surgery Applicants: What They Want in an Interview and How They Are Influenced by Post–Interview Contact
Creators: Christopher L Camp - Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Paul L Sousa - Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Arlen D Hanssen - Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Matthew D Karam - Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
George J Haidukewych - Orthopedics, Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, Florida
Daniel A Oakes - Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
Norman S Turner - Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of surgical education, Vol.73(4), pp.709-714
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2016.03.009
PMID: 27137662
ISSN: 1931-7204
eISSN: 1878-7452
Language: English
Date published: 07/2016
Academic Unit: Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
Record Identifier: 9984040495502771

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