Mixed Signals: Navigating the Obstetrics and Gynecology Signaling Initiative
by Caroline S. Kwon, M.D.; Lily Bender, M.S.; Noor Dasouki Abu-Alnadi, M.D. | June 9, 2024
Article Citation: Kraus AC, Dalrymple JL, Schwartz E, Marzan G, Nelson S, Morgan HK, Hammoud MM, Young OM. Mixed Signals: Navigating the Obstetrics and Gynecology Signaling Initiative. J Surg Educ. 2024 Apr;81(4):525-534. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.12.019
What is this article about?
Key findings from a study of the OB/GYN residency applicant journey emphasized that signaling strategies vary between applicants and are marked by inconsistent guidance by mentors and medical schools. Additionally, this article exposes the emotional toll on applicants’ well-being and persistent concerns related to inequity in the application process (i.e. departmental candidate support and post-interview communications), despite implementation of signaling.
Why should you read the article?
Published accounts of the general OB/GYN-specific signaling experience are scarce. Moreover, prior studies in other medical specialties using signaling have not examined the complexity of the residency applicant experience by directly engaging applicants. This new perspective reveals there is a critical need to provide applicants with clear guidelines on signaling practices and advocate for a standardized approach for its utilization by residency programs.
How can you use this article?
Applicants and educators may use this article to gain valuable insights into the OB/GYN residency applicants’ perspective, specifically, and other residencies, in general. Mentors and departmental advising teams can better formulate standardized approaches to disseminate fundamental information about signaling and also provide guidance about the varying strategies used nationwide by applicants and program directors. This may reduce applicant anxiety, and consequently, decrease the total number of applications per student. Nonetheless, advisors and medical students must be aware that inequities (eg. informal demonstrations of interest) remain within the application process and thus should continue to be addressed during advising.
Review Author: Caroline Kwon, M.D.; Clinical Fellow, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC. Co-authored by Lily Bender, M.S., and Noor Dasouki Abu-Alnadi M.D. Organization: American Association of Gynecologic Laparascopists