Internal Medicine Residency Program Applicant Perceptions of the SPLIT Recruitment Model Before and After Universal Virtual Interviews: SPLIT Internal Medicine Residency Recruitment

• Published in: Journal of general internal medicine : JGIM 2025, Vol.40 (1), p.22-29
• Main Authors: Chilukuri, Priyanka K., Bergin, Christina R., Celaya, Melisa P., Johnson, Kory A., O’Malley, Cheryl W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Research
• ISSN: 0884-8734; 1525-1497
• DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-09051-8

Background Enhancing residency recruitment with modifications to interviews has been an area of national interest, further catalyzed by the transition to universal virtual interviewing (UVI). In 2018, our internal medicine residency program redesigned the recruitment process using virtual interviews. Objective Evaluating this recruitment model allows programs to identify applicant perceptions of each component as they consider enhancements. Design The new model, termed “SPLIT,” included separating optional applicant visit days (AVD) from interviews (S), a pre-interview supplemental form (P), learning program information from a dedicated website (L), virtual interviews (I), and flexible timing (remote interview day and site visit) (T). Participants Applicants for the 2019 to 2023 Match who interviewed at one university-based internal medicine residency program. Main Measures After rank list certification and before the annual Match, interviewed applicants were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the SPLIT process. Responses before (2019–2020 Matches) and after (2021–2023 Matches) UVIs were compared. Key Results A total of 386 (75%) of 515 respondents favored video interviews. This preference was stronger in the post-UVI group (92%) than in the pre-UVI group (57%) ( p