267 - Virtual Interview Process in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose: To examine the experiences and attitudes of pediatric dentistry residency program directors and first year residents regarding the virtual interview process during the 2020/2021 application cycle.

Methods: One survey was sent to 101 pediatric dentistry residency program directors a second survey was sent to 889 post-doc members of AAPD with data only collected from those who interviewed during the 2020/2021 cycle.

Results: Response rates were 27% (N=22/82) for program directors and 17% (N = 72/416) for residents. Program directors felt that virtual interviews could not substitute in-person interviews and that virtual interviews made it difficult to represent clinic facilities, observe interactions between current residents and applicants, and assess certain personality characteristics. While 40.0% of directors said they would be willing to utilize virtual interviews in the future 60% of directors were not interested in future utilization. Residents felt they were unable to observe interactions between faculty and current residents, unable to assess the surrounding area or clinical facilities, and unable to understand the culture of the program. While residents reported that virtual interviews were more accommodating to their schedule and 87% spent less than $250.00 on virtual interviews 61% would still prefer to interview in person for any future interviews.

Conclusion: Program directors felt virtual interviews could not substitute in-person interviews and 60% of directors would not be interested in any future virtual interviews. Residents reported they were unable to evaluate the clinical facilities or the surrounding area and would prefer to interview in person for any future interviews.