Considerations for dermatology residency applicants underrepresented in medicine amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Rescuing medical education in times of COVID-19

“…For example, in-person dermatology rotations are invaluable for students to gain exposure to dermatology with the potential to create meaningful bonds with educators. 1 These bonds ultimately may result in strong letters of recommendation, which are cited as instrumental in obtaining residency interviews. 27 Because legislation varies in different states and in-person rotations may be further delayed, barriers that candidates may face can be alleviated by decreasing the dermatology letter of recommendation requirement, while allowing nonspecialty letters of recommendation for those who are unable to complete dermatology rotations before the Electronic Residency Application Service deadline.…”

“…Though some students may have opportunities to participate in remote scholarly work during this time, many students do not have these prospects . Although holistic application review is always salient, 1 , 40 the COVID-19 pandemic demands an increased emphasis on these processes due to the potential psychological impact of the pandemic 41 and increased barriers to opportunities. Ultimately, if feasible, we encourage students to maintain their original application plans and understand that programs will strive to review applications holistically while considering the immense implications the pandemic has had on applicants’ access to opportunities.…”

“…As hospitals worldwide grapple with this pandemic, the vital focus has been aimed at patient care and public health safety. 1 The rapid development of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered considerable interruptions to residency programs and medical education. Medical faculty, physicians-in-training, and students alike face unprecedented changes that carry the potential to impact their career progression.…”

Allyship in dermatology

“…One recommendation is to shift the evaluation of candidates from previously emphasized metrics and focus on values of character, leadership, volunteerism, research, and cultural competence. These considerations also aim to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on UIM dermatology applicants ( Jones et al, 2020a , Jones et al, 2020b , Pritchett et al, 2018 ). In light of the pandemic, allyship through virtual engagement from institutions, faculty, and leadership in dermatology has provided a new platform for inclusion, outreach, and mentorship.…”

Response to: “Applying to dermatology residency during the COVID-19 pandemic”

“…Unfortunately, this will likely negatively influence under-represented minorities in medicine and international medical graduates, given that lowerthan-average standardized testing scores are among the multiple factors that contribute to the lack of diversity in dermatology residency programs. 5 Considering the pandemic will impact applicants unequally in clinical experiences, research productivity, extracurricular activities, and volunteer opportunities, it becomes salient for programs to acknowledge individuality when evaluating applicants during this unprecedented time. We recommend that programs work closely and creatively alongside one another and with medical schools for holistic evaluation of applicants by formulating interactive individualized virtual rotations, planning to conditionally expand rotation opportunities to outside rotators within local COVID-19 guidelines, organizing remote conversations between residents and applicants, and developing research projects as an additional method to evaluate knowledge and skill.…”