The unique impact of COVID-19 on orthopedic surgery residency applicants and program directors in Canada

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of visiting medical student electives and in-person residency interviews in Canada. Orthopedic surgery residency programs are now curtailed in their ability to self-promote and select optimal applicants. Online and social media tools should be adopted to promote programs. Faculty, residents and trainees should aim to attend virtual social and program information events. Applicants should make efforts to learn about the programs by attending events and reaching out to residents, and strengthen their application through research and other activities to demonstrate their interest and commitment to the field of orthopedic surgery. These efforts may help avoid the prospect of qualified candidates being unranked by programs or residency positions being unfilled. These difficult circumstances may serve to engender collaboration and cooperation across residency programs and medical schools and lay the foundation for a thriving interconnected ecosystem of future orthopedic surgeons.

Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthopedics and the Implications of Telemedicine: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…A total of four studies [ 3 , 10 , 49 , 54 ] conducted in the United States of America (n = 3) and Canada (n = 1) focused on the application process ( Table 3 ). There were three perspective/narrative studies [ 3 , 49 , 54 ] that discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the application process and offered potential strategies. In response to the impact on matching, there is a strong need for a thorough understanding of the drastic adjustment in the process [ 3 ].…”

“…In response to the impact on matching, there is a strong need for a thorough understanding of the drastic adjustment in the process [ 3 ]. Adaptation to virtual interviews was proposed if it should become the new standard [ 49 ], and online and social media tools should be adopted to promote programmes [ 54 ]. Questionnaire surveys of medical students in the United States of America revealed suprising differences by gender and race.…”

A Canadian survey of residency applicants’ and interviewers’ perceptions of the 2021 CaRMS R1 virtual interviews.

“…Moreover, reinstating away electives would provide applicants with adequate opportunities to learn about the programs while retaining all the bene ts of the virtual format for the CaRMS interviews. Prior research has shown that away electives substantially impact the choice of specialty and location of future practice for applicants (Curran et al, 2007;Courneya et al, 2019;Shah et al, 2021;Leppard et al, 2021).…”

“…With the COVID-19 pandemic, postgraduate medical education programs across Canada cancelled all visiting electives starting March of 2020, limiting opportunities for medical students to gain in-person exposure and showcase their abilities and interests to programs outside of their home school (The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), 2020). The Canadian residency matching service (CaRMS) changed its processes for matching applicants into residency programs, requiring all Canadian residency programs to conduct residency interviews virtually for the rst time in 2021 (Shah et al, 2021;AFMC, 2020;Gore et al, 2021;Luc et al, 2021).…”

Perspective Chapter: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Field of Orthopedics

“…The maximal reduction percentage of the elective surgery was 100% in the United Kingdom [42], 84% in Hong Kong [30], 83% in Portugal [53], 64% in Chile [32], and 43.5% in Taiwan (Figure 2, [55]). The relatively smaller reduction percentage in Taiwan may be attributable to the lack of restrictions or lockdowns [59].…”