ObjectivesThe goal of this research was to determine the gender distribution of chief residents in emergency medicine (EM) residencies in the United States to explore whether the gender leadership gap is present at the resident level in EM.MethodsThe investigators compiled a list of EM residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Investigators reached out to the programs using established best practices in survey distribution collecting the following: program name, program location, program length, total number of residents, total number of female residents, total number of chief residents, and the total number of female chief residents.ResultsOf the 223 programs contacted 194 programs responded and 182 programs were included in the study (a response rate of 82%). As of the 2019 to 2020 academic year, female EM residents account for 37.0% (2,459/6,718) of all EM residents and female EM chief residents account for 42.2% (250/593) of EM chief residents. The proportion of female EM chief residents was significantly higher than the proportion of both female EM residents (42.2% vs. 37%, p = 0.007) and female EM attending physicians (42.2% vs. 27.5%, p < 0.001). When comparing proportions of female residents based on duration of program, female physicians comprised 35.0% (1,652/4,720) of residents at 3‐year programs and 40.4% (807/1998) of residents at 4‐year programs (p < 0.01).ConclusionsWhile the proportion of female EM residents remains significantly lower than the proportion of male residents, females and males are similarly represented at the chief resident role.

Background: Communication and interpersonal skills are important for effective patient care but are difficult to measure. Unannounced standardized patient encounters (USPEs) have the benefit of providing a standardized situation and provide a representation of usual care rather than best behavior, while also allowing for video recording without violating patient privacy. We conducted a feasibility pilot study to examine the use of videotaped USPEs in resident education of interpersonal and communication skills and specifically empathy. Methods: This was a pilot study conducted at an urban community teaching hospital. About 16 first-year emergency medicine engaged in four videotaped USPEs during their normal clinical shifts during 1 academic year. All visible recording equipment was concealed from the residents. The standardized patients completed two assessment forms after each encounter to measure empathy. Results: All 16 residents engaged in four videotaped USPEs for a total of 64 encounters. Conclusions: We were able to successfully demonstrate the feasibility of using USPEs for assessment of resident interpersonal and communication skills. E ffective communication is integral to the physician-patient relationship. Studies have shown that empathy in particular improves patient outcomes, results in a decreased rate of litigation, and increases patient and family satisfaction. 1-4 Unfortunately, communication and interpersonal skills are often overshadowed by medical knowledge and procedural skills during medical school and residency. One study found that 26% of interns failed to perform at entry-level milestones related to professionalism and patient-From

ranked these SLOEs in order of competitiveness based on the SLOE information alone. Consensus was evaluated using cutoffs established a priori, and two prediction models, a point-based system and linear regression model, were tested to determine their ability to predict faculty consensus rankings.Results: We found strong faculty consensus regarding the competitiveness of SLOEs. Within narrow windows of agreement, the majority of faculty demonstrated similar ranking patterns with 83% and 93% agreement for "close" and "loose" agreement, respectively. Predictive models yielded strong correlation with the consensus ranking (point-based system r=0.97, linear regression r=0.97).Conclusions: Faculty displayed strong consensus regarding competitiveness of SLOEs, adding validity evidence to the use of SLOEs for selection and advising. Additionally, two models predicted consensus competitiveness rankings with a high degree of accuracy. These models could potentially be used to inform applicant competitiveness at scale in an effort to curb overapplication and aid future mentorship practices.