Preparing for the Neurosurgery Residency Application Process during a Pandemic: A Program Director’s Perspective

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As early as the 1980s, resident education has been the crown jewel at Barrow Neurological Institute. Being slightly off the beaten path, most of us here in Phoenix remember when we first found out about this oasis in the desert that offered an extraordinary residency experience. During recruitment season every year, we experience this excitement as potential residents discover for themselves the depth and range of the neurosurgical education that Barrow offers.

When it became clear early this summer that rotations with other programs and in-person interviews would not happen this year, we were in denial. After briefly cycling through the Kübler-Ross stages of grief, we eventually arrived at acceptance of the situation. Once we came to terms with the new reality of no in-person events this year, we began exploring ways to foster a two-way street of “getting to know you” between this year’s students and Barrow. We embraced the tools of virtual platforms and social media. More than ever before, the public relations department became a key partner in our efforts. Our focus was to convey what we love about Barrow and our residency program to those who would have otherwise seen it for themselves any other year. To share the Barrow experience, we planned an end-of-summer roll-out of multiple virtual experiences, combining:

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  • Video content;
  • Interactive meetings; and
  • A new educational program.

Over the summer, we developed and produced several short videos showing a slice of Barrow residency life. We started with the get-to-know Barrow segments, conversations with the chairman and program director. We then highlighted academic resources, Barrow culture and camaraderie and the faculty-resident relationship as well as interviews with current residents addressing why they chose Barrow. We complemented this approach with less structured and interactive office hours. Over the course of four sessions, residency candidates were invited to participate in conversations about the program, the experience as a resident, our cerebrovascular program and our spine program. Barrow residents, faculty and over 50 residency candidates participated in each session.

Among all the activities that potential residents who interview at Barrow participate in, evening teaching rounds are one of the most memorable. Teaching rounds are a renowned tradition at Barrow spanning decades, and we didn’t want the pandemic to keep us from being able to share this experience with applicants. This fall, we launched the “Barrow Base Camp.” For the first time ever, residency applicants can experience this foundational component of Barrow neurosurgical education (Figure 1).

These efforts bring us right to the interview deadline. As our target audience is about to narrow, we continue to brainstorm opportunities to showcase the on-site Barrow experience while being mindful of “Zoom fatigue” and content oversaturation. The residency application process is one of many rites of passages that we undertake on the long path to becoming a neurosurgeon. The experience of rotating through other residency programs and being on the interview trail is one that every neurosurgeon remembers their entire career. Although we regret not interacting in-person with this year’s applicants, we recognize the impact that missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience of away-rotations and in-person interviews will have on this year’s class of residents. We continue to seek and develop creative ways to bring the Barrow residency experience to them outside the sphere of personal contact throughout this season.

Figure 1. The daily didactic teaching rounds are a foundation of the Barrow experience and are being made available online this year. Titled “Barrow Base Camp,” Dr. Lawton and residents review treatment options for current referrals, make game plans for upcoming surgeries, and reflect on recent surgeries.
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