ABSTRACT #43

INCREASING INTERVIEW PREPAREDNESS FOR FELLOWSHIP INTERVIEWS: A MOCK INTERVIEW PROGRAM.

Fionnuala Crowley, Rebecca Pietro, Ga Hee Kim, Patrick Tobin-schnittger, Yasmin Herrera, Gabriela Bernal, Georgina Osorio, Vasundhara Singh, John Andrilli

PURPOSE AND GOALS: Previous studies demonstrate that mock interviews increase medical students’ and healthcare professionals’ confidence and improve match rates, but little research has been conducted among medical residents. Despite this, few formalized programs targeting interviewing skills exist. We aimed to increase trainees’ confidence from Mount Sinai Morningside/West Internal Medicine Residency Program entering subspecialty fellowship interviews and prepare them via a mock interview program.

METHODS: Sample questions and online interview preparation material was disseminated to applicants prior to the mock interview session. Sessions were organized by specialty and held via Zoom. Furthermore, prior to the interview session, applicants emailed their application to their scheduled interviewer and interviewers were given a list of questions and a standardized feedback rubric for zoom interviews. Applicants completed two twenty minute interviews with two interviewers/panels. Interviewers were then provided 10 minutes of feedback.

EVALUATION PLAN: A needs assessment was disseminated among fellowship applicants with focused questions identifying their preferred format for mock interviews. Post mock interviews surveys were collected from interviewers and interviewees.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS: 30 residents signed up to take part out of 34 residents applying for fellowship (88%), 27 residents (79.4%) completed the mock interviews. 20 residents (66%) filled out the pre- interviews needs assessment. 100% indicated they would like interview skills training and 100% were interested in taking part in mock interviews.

55% said they wanted physicians from their chosen specialty to interview them, 45% said any physician. A panel of three interviewers was most popular preference(45%), followed by 2 interviewer panel (30%) and single interviewer interviews (25%). 20 minute interview with ten minutes feedback was the most popular format (80%). 15 residents (55%) filled out the post mock interview survey. 100% of residents felt the interview preparation material provided was sufficient, 93% felt the interview length was just right. 100% found the experience helpful and should be organized every year. Suggested improvements included interviewers providing written feedback and having the interviews later in the evening to facilitate more faculty involvement. 21 interviewers (15 attendings, 6 fellows) completed the post interview survey (56% response rate). 81% felt interview length was just right, 14.3% too long, 4.8% too short. 100% said we should organize mock interviews every year, 100% said they would take part in the future. Most common feedback suggestion was to reduce length of interview and feedback.

REFLECTIVE CRITIQUE:

Residents found mock interviews to be helpful preparation for fellowship interviews. Interviewers and interviewees both felt it was an activity that should be repeated every year. We found some discrepancies between what interviewers and interviewees perceived to be the ideal length of interview and feedback sessions.