title: The Burden of the Fellowship Interview Process on General Surgery Residents and Programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the effect of the fellowship interview process in a cohort of general surgery residents. We hypothesized that the interview process would be associated with significant clinical time lost, monetary expenses, and increased need for shift coverage.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online anonymous survey link was sent via e-mail to general surgery program directors in June 2014. Program directors distributed an additional survey link to current residents in their program who had completed the fellowship interview process.
  
  
  METHODS
  United States allopathic general surgery programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall, 50 general surgery program directors; 72 general surgery residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Program directors reported a fellowship application rate of 74.4%. Residents most frequently attended 8 to 12 interviews (35.2%). Most (57.7%) of residents reported missing 7 or more days of clinical training to attend interviews; these shifts were largely covered by other residents. Most residents (62.3%) spent over $4000 on the interview process. Program directors rated fellowship burden as an average of 6.7 on a 1 to 10 scale of disruption, with 10 being a significant disruption. Most of the residents (57.3%) were in favor of change in the interview process. We identified potential areas for improvement including options for coordinated interviews and improved content on program websites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The surgical fellowship match is relatively burdensome to residents and programs alike, and merits critical assessment for potential improvement.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Albama.
authors.forename: Shawna L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Albama.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Albama.
authors.forename: Lasun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oladeji
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Albama.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Albama.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Porterfield
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Albama. Electronic address: bponce@uabmc.edu.
authors.forename: Brent A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ponce
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D007586:Job Application; D008297:Male; D010560:Personnel Selection; D014481:United States
keywords: Medical Knowledge; Professionalism; Systems-Based Practice; cost; fellowship; general surgery; interview; match