Optimizing the fellowship interview process: Perspectives from applicants and program directors of the comprehensive endocrine surgery fellowship program.

Background: Approximately 80% of general surgery residents undertake some form of fellowship training. Our objective was to characterize goals and burdens of the interview process among applicants to Comprehensive Endocrine Surgery Fellowship programs.

Methods: Participants included trainees from 2013 to 2019. Results for ranking questions are presented as a mean rank reported out of the total number of selections.

Results: Response rate was 54% (n = 75). The most important goal for interviews was meeting the faculty (mean rank 2.4/9), followed by "behind the scenes information" and "make a good impression" (mean rank 3.6 and 3.7, respectively). The most substantial burden for the applicant was expense (mean rank 2.1/7), followed by time away from residency (mean rank 3.1/7). The economic burden of 51% of the applicants was $2,500 to $7,500. Geographic location and expense were the top 2 reasons applicants declined offers of interviews. Despite the process, 76% of respondents indicated that no improvements to the interview process are necessary. Alternative strategies such as videoconferencing or centralized interviews received little support (<10%).

Conclusion: Despite identifying several burdens, survey respondents believed that in-person interviews are an integral component of the fellowship application process. Indeed, 70% of applicants do not have a first-choice program before interviews, and meeting the faculty is ranked as the greatest priority goal. Our data illustrate the importance of individual specialties evaluating and optimizing their own processes for fellowship interviews.