Dermatology Faculty Perspectives on Virtual and In-Person Residency Interviews

Background The COVID-19 pandemic led to the transition to virtual residency interviews. The Association of American Medical Colleges continues to recommend virtual interviews, but dermatology programs are reconsidering their preferences as pandemic restrictions have eased. We conducted a survey of dermatology faculty to assess their perspectives on virtual and in-person residency interview formats. Methods The survey was administered to faculty attending the 2024 Fall Association of Professors of Dermatology Meeting during a session on interview formats. Of 350 conference attendees, 160 responded to the survey (46% response rate), including 79 program directors or associate program directors. Results In the 2024–2025 application cycle, 13.9% of programs conducted in-person interviews, while the remainder conducted virtual interviews. Primary drivers of in-person interviews included the ability to assess applicants’ interpersonal skills, interactions, and program fit, as well exposing them to the geographic area. Those conducting virtual interviews cited equity (38.0%) and cost savings (27.9%) as their reasons. Without institutional constraints, respondents were split between wanting virtual (37.1%) and in-person (36.4%) interviews, and 24.5% favored a hybrid model. Most agreed that virtual interviews are more equitable (70.6%), though many believed that in-person interviews better aligned applicants with programs (59.2%). Conclusion While dermatology faculty acknowledge the equity and financial benefits of virtual interviews, the value of face-to-face interactions remains. These findings may help guide future decisions about interview formats and highlight the need for further evaluation of how these formats affect applicant experiences and the match process.