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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Academic Ophthalmology 2021; 13(01): e73-e77
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1728759
Research Article

COVID-19 and the Ophthalmology Residency Match: Data from Applicants' Perspectives

Benjamin Steren
1   Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
,
Ankur Parikh
2   Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio
,
Bilal Ahmed
3   University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, Ohio
,
Benjamin Young
1   Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
,
Jayanth Sridhar
4   Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miler School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
,
Ninani Kombo 
1   Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
› Author Affiliations Financial Support This publication was supported by the Yale School of Medicine Medical Student Fellowship.
Bascom Palmer is supported by NIH Center Core Grant P30EY014801, Research to Prevent Blindness Unrestricted Grant.
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Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound impact on medical education, particularly for those applying to residency programs in 2020 to 2021. This study describes the challenges for potential ophthalmology residency applicants so that residency leadership can make informed decisions about changes to the process.

Methods A survey was distributed electronically via social media and medical school ophthalmology interest groups from June 18, 2020 to July 2, 2020 to individuals interested in applying to ophthalmology residency in the United States. Survey questions included demographics and perceived impacts of COVID-19 on ability, confidence, intention to apply, and perceptions toward changes in the application process for the 2020 to 2021 ophthalmology residency application cycle.

Results One-hundred sixteen total responses were received. Eighty-six responses (74%) were from individuals intending to apply in the 2020 to 2021 application cycle. Most respondents (86%) felt that their application would be affected by COVID-19 with 51% feeling less confident. Only four (5%) felt that they could adequately compile a rank list following a video interview, and over half (51%) anticipated applying to more programs than they originally intended. Academic plans of seven (8%) respondents were significantly altered via deferral of application or cancellation of a research year. Thirty-nine (45%) students reported delayed ophthalmology electives, with less than half (41%) feeling that they had adequate clinical exposure to be prepared for residency.

Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the 2020 to 2021 ophthalmology residency application cycle. As stakeholders begin to approach this cycle, these findings will help them make effective and informed decisions to create the best overall experience for all involved.

Keywords

COVID-19 - residency - applications - student perceptions

Authors' Contributions

All authors have contributed substantially to the conception and design of the work, have drafted and revised the manuscript critically, have final approval of the final version, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 31 August 2020

Accepted: 30 September 2020

Article published online:
23 June 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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