The Residency Application Process – How We Do It
CORD Conference Annual Meeting
Denver, CO – June 15, 2013
Kyle J. Jeray
Greenville Health System
University of South Carolina
Greenville, SC
Disclosures Editorial board JOT and JBJS Newsletter, Reviewer
JBJS, JOT, JAAOS; Consultant for Zimmer; Research
support from Department of Defense, CIHR, NIH, AO
North America, OTA; Oral examiner for ABOS
Department has received funds for educational
support from Smith & Nephew, Zimmer, Synthes,
Stryker
I have no conflicts with this presentation
Background
163 programs with 693 positions
1038 applicants of which 833 were US seniors
All but one filled via the NRMP (67% of
applicants matched in orthopedic surgery)
Residency Application Process and Treating a Tibial Fracture?
Residency Application Process and Treating a tibial Plateau Fracture?
Are they the same?
Who looks good?
Goals?
Outcomes?
Tips and Tricks to get there, wherever there
is?
How one gets to Matching a resident Varies
Primarily valgus force +/- axial loadCompressive and shearing forces
Bone quality + rate, direction, magnitude of force
Determine ultimate fracture pattern
Goal – Find Resident that -
Works hard (PASSION!)
Fits in well
Passes ABOS I and II
Safe and competent
AVOID COMPLICATIONS!
7% of residents will be a headache!
Probation or fire
ERAS - Physical Examination
ERAS – Electronic Residency
Application Service
Open applications starting in mid
August
ERAS
•Transcript•CV•Board scores•Personal statement•+ or – picture•Letters of Recommendation – 3 (but most send at least 4)
ERAS
Work experience
Publications
Research (in or out of orthopedics)
Volunteer experience
What about Additional Forms?
May help?
Burden to others?
My opinion – All or None
What is Really Relevant?
Does anyone know?
Maybe Jack Choueka?
His talk next - but if we did
we would all match same
group?
The Dean’s Letter
Helpful?
Released earlier last
year now most by
mid October
Sort the Applications (Classify)
Average about 600-650 applications for 4 positions
Screen - USMLE scores (cutoff if less than 220 with few exceptions)
Transcript GPA 3.75 cutoff
Who to Finally Interview?
After the screening we are usually down to about 200 applications
The PD, Chair, and Associate PD review
Scoring forms?
Interviews
55-70 will be granted interview from the 200
Decision between all three of us
Each with own thoughts - takes one
afternoon to decide
What About Rotators?
We have 15-20
Interview at end of rotation
Invite back only if we are interested
– costly to interview if have no
chance
Interview Process Multiple Dates 15-20
3-5 per day
One resident assigned to each interview day
Why?
Who Interviews?
Program Director
Chairman
Associate PD
Chief Resident
At least 2-4 other faculty varies each day
Interview Styles – The right one?
Typically 30-45 minutes
Process relaxed each interviewer own style and
has an evaluation sheet, but comments galore!
Ultimately each ranks best to least
Interviewing – To Do Read the application
ahead of time
Focus questions on
what “fits” your
program
Ask about what’s in
the applicationresearch
Interviewing – To Avoid?
Rash “Blink” decisions
Talking too much about program
Gimmicks
Making decisions on ridiculous questions
Small talk
What would you do questions
Take Your Time! It isn’t a race 10 extra minutes
spent doing a good job will be 10 minutes well spent
Applicants appreciative
Needing everyone’s opinion
Logistically how do you do it? Coordinator key role in scheduling
Remember only need 2 hours to interview 4
applicants (start before 1st case see 2 between and
4th after)
A resident assigned to “entertain” during down time
Most Important Interview!!!!
The night before with ONLY a few residents
for a casual dinner (typically 2-3 residents
and 3-5 applicants)
Setting relaxed and our residents get idea of
“fit” for program over 2-3 hours socially
Soooo Why things don’t turn out? Understand Your Equipment!
Pre-op plan!!
No Application Process is Perfect!
Lots of ways to do things (are 4 good interviews better than 10 or 15 for 5-10 minutes for an applicant?)
Different strokes for different folks
As much as the process may impact your decision it still is all about DECIDING WHO TO TAKE!
Remember -
One bad resident is a 5
year headache
Take your time, screen,
prepare, interview and
ultimately HOPE it is
the right decision!
(from Adam Starr)