The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges for medical students applying to residency programs. In this episode, Candrice R. Heath, MD (@DrCandriceHeath), talks to Virginia Alvarado Jones, MD, MS (@GinaAlvaJones), and medical student Victoria Humphrey (@VictoriaSHumphrey) about their experience navigating the dermatology residency Match process during this application cycle. They provide tips and takeaways for the next group of applicants, including how to adapt to the virtual interview process and connect with mentors and fellow residents without regular in-person contact.

Dr. Heath also talks to residency program director Ilana Rosman, MD (@ilanarosman), about how the past year has opened the door for much needed changes in the residency application process (begins at 28:50 ). “We had two pandemics this year, right? We have COVID, and we have racial injustice. And I think that's not new. That's obviously not new at all. But I think it really has come to the forefront. And I think those two things together have made all of us much more cognizant of how we go about the process of residency selection and application making sure that we can make it equitable, inclusive, and sustainable moving forward,” Dr. Rosman says. They also discuss a holistic approach to reviewing residency applicants and virtual mentorships.

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Host: Candrice R. Heath, MD (Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia)

Guests: Virginia Alvarado Jones, MD, MS (California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco; University of Illinois at Chicago); Victoria Humphrey (University of Pittsburgh); Ilana Rosman, MD (Washington University, St. Louis)

Disclosures: Dr. Heath, Dr. Jones, and Dr. Rosman, as well as Ms. Humphrey, report no conflicts of interest.

Show notes by: Alicia Sonners, Melissa Sears

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