E2739. #FutureRadRes: How We Do It - Utilizing Social Media (SoMe) Platforms for Residency and Fellowship Recruitment
Authors
April Ballard;
University of California, Irvine
Andrew Chong;
University of Southern California
Timothy Iafe;
University of California, Los Angeles
Charles Li;
University of California, Irvine
Background
In the era of virtual interviews, radiology residency programs have increasingly turned to social media as a way to virtually highlight their programs. A recent survey of applicants showed that 71% of respondents used social media pages to learn more about a program and 41% of respondents reported that social media played a vital role in their decision-making process. Prior to the COVIC-19 pandemic, applicants attended pre-interview dinners and in-person interviews--sometimes traveling from out-of-state to assess a program’s culture and ‘fit’. With an increasing number of applicants utilizing social media in their decision to apply to and rank programs, training programs can build their presence on platforms like Instagram and Twitter to reach this audience.
Educational Goals / Teaching Points
The goal of this exhibit is to demonstrate the significance and applications of social media in program recruitment, and to provide a how-to guide on starting and running a resident-run social media account. We will detail our experience running social media recruitment campaigns for both residency and fellowship programs at multiple institutions.
Key Anatomic/Physiologic Issues and Imaging Findings/Techniques
Our exhibit will focus on quantitative tools across a variety of social media platforms, which can be used to measure impact. We will also examine a variety of campaign tools such as online “open houses”, TweetChats, and online polling, which can increase engagement and interaction across these platforms.
Conclusion
We conclude that a residency or fellowship program’s social media presence can positively impact an applicant’s consideration of the program. With the persistence of the virtual interview paradigm, social media platforms will become increasingly important for recruiting the best and brightest candidates for the next generation of radiology residents and fellows.
