Efficacy of Videoconference Interviews in the Pediatric Surgery Match

Purpose: The pediatric surgery match is highly competitive with the interview process requiring significant resources. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of videoconference interviewing (VI) as a screening tool in the pediatric surgery match process. Methods: During the 2017 interview season, applicants participated in VI prior to on-site interviews. Applicants and faculty completed 15 and 8-question surveys, respectively, regarding their experiences. Results: Both faculty and applicants agreed VI was easily workable and allowed them to accurately represent themselves. Faculty agreed VI would change how they rank candidates and that it is a helpful screening tool. Most disagreed VI could substitute for on-site interviews. Most applicants reported the cost and time required for on-site interviews was a hardship. Overall, applicants moved an average of 5.5 ± 2.9 (median 3) positions from the pre-VI to post-VI rank list. Thirty-seven percent of applicants moved out of the top ten rank list following VI. Of the lowest 5 applicants on the post-VI rank list, only 20% matched successfully. Conclusion: The pediatric surgery match requires a significant investment of time and money that creates a hardship for most applicants. VI may be an effective screening tool that could potentially reduce on-site interviews and alleviate the burden on applicants and general surgery training programs.