To examine retrospective experiences with the virtual interview (VI) process among post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) urology residents who participated in the 2020-2021 American Urologic Association (AUA) Match cycle.
A 27-question survey created by a Society of Academic Urologists (SAU) Taskforce on VI was distributed to PGY1 residents from 105 institutions between February 1, 2022 – March 7, 2022. The survey asked respondents to reflect on the VI process, cost concerns, and how experiences at their current program aligned with prior VI representation.
A total of 116 PGY-1 residents completed the survey. The majority felt the VI represented the following domains well: 1) institution/program culture and strengths (74%), 2) representation of all faculty/disciplines (74%), 3) resident quality of life (62%), 4) personal fit (66%), 5) quality of surgical training and volume (63%), and 6) opportunities to meet residents (60%). Approximately 71% of respondents did not match at their home program or a program they visited in-person. Within this cohort, 13% agreed important aspects of their current program were not translated virtually, and they would not have prioritized the program had they been able to visit in-person. In total, 61% ranked programs they ordinarily might not have listed during an in-person interview season. Overall, 25% deemed financial costs a “very important” consideration during the VI process.
The majority of PGY1 urology residents reported key components of their current program translated well from the VI process. This platform offers a method of overcoming conventional geographic and financial barriers associated with the in-person interview process.

Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.