Former UAB Division of Plastic Surgery Professor Timothy King, M.D., Ph.D., in company with his colleagues, published “Changing Dynamics in Medical Education during COVID-19 Pandemic: Are Integrated Plastic Surgery Programs Adapting for Residency Applicants?” in the Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
The objective of their research was to display how plastic surgery programs have evolved and adjusted for the 2021 application process by establishing a social media audience and executing virtual opportunities.
By using two table charts, researchers discovered 138 social media accounts, 65 programs (80 percent) had an online presence on either Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, and 12 (15 percent) had a presence on all three platforms.
Researchers also found that open houses were listed by 50 programs (61 percent) on the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons and four program websites (5 percent).
Researchers gathered and identified 82 accredited plastic surgery residency programs that possessed a social media departmental voice through the use of Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Researchers conclude that hosting virtual open houses appears to be the more favorable method of outreach to applicants this year, adhering to COVID-19 social distancing recommendations and travel limitations.
Several faculty and trainees across the UAB Heersink School of Medicine collaborated with the Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at New York University Langone Health.
Study authors include:
Nikhi Singh, M.D., MBA
Shivani Ananthasekar, M.D
Carter Boyd, M.D., MBA
Soroush Rais- Bahrami, M.D.
Timothy King, M.D., Ph.D.