Neurosurgical residency adaptations for the residency application cycle amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Acute on chronic sequelae

Paul Chisolm; Nikhi Singh; Ryan Zaniewski; Soroush Rais-Bahrami; Curtis J. Rozzelle

Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery (Sep 2021)

Neurosurgical residency adaptations for the residency application cycle amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Acute on chronic sequelae

Paul Chisolm,
Nikhi Singh,
Ryan Zaniewski,
Soroush Rais-Bahrami,
Curtis J. Rozzelle

Affiliations

Paul Chisolm: University of Alabama, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Corresponding author at: The University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Medicine, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
Nikhi Singh: University of Alabama, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
Ryan Zaniewski: University of Alabama, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
Soroush Rais-Bahrami: University of Alabama, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Department of Urology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
Curtis J. Rozzelle: University of Alabama, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children’s of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 25
p. 101177

Abstract

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed medical education, including the upcoming residency application cycle. External rotations have been restricted, but virtual opportunities for applicants have not yet been assessed. Objective(s): To describe how neurosurgical residency programs are adapting to the 2021 application cycle through augmented social media usage and establishment of virtual sub-I’s and open houses. Methods: One hundred fifteen separate programs were identified on ERAS. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, residency websites, and the Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS) were reviewed for virtual open house and sub-I opportunities. Professional neurosurgery society websites were also reviewed. All data is updated as of February 14 th, 2021. Results: Eighty-eight (77%) programs had some social media presence. Fourty-three (30%) departmental accounts were created in 2020. Twenty-four (57%) of the residency program accounts were created in 2020. Programs offered 35 (18%) open house opportunities on Twitter, 19 (17%) on Facebook, and 23 (20%) on Instagram. Nineteen (17%) virtual sub-I opportunities were on Twitter, 9 (8%) on Facebook, and 10 (9%) on Instagram.Virtual opportunities were updated on 13 (12%) residency websites. The National Neurosurgery MedEd website had the most website listings of virtual opportunities with 34 (30%) programs listing open houses and 18 (16%) programs listing virtual sub-I’s. No program specific virtual opportunities were found on the AANS or CNS websites. VSAS identified only 4 (4%) virtual sub-internships. Conclusion: Many neurosurgical residency programs increased their virtual presence amid the COVID-19 pandemic. More programs could utilize these platforms to mitigate applicant restriction in upcoming neurosurgery residency application cycles.

Published in Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery

ISSN: 2214-7519 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Surgery; Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/interdisciplinary-neurosurgery/

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