Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, medical students entering the 2020-2021 match for Anesthesiology residency training will be faced with many unique challenges. These include, but are not limited to, difficulties scheduling away rotations (externships), hardship in obtaining letters of recommendation (LORs), delayed USMLE step 2 examination scores, and numerous obstacles to travel for residency interviews. The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance for anesthesiology residency programs in demonstrating support for medical students due to these challenges.
The ASA, in collaboration with the Society of Academic Associations of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine (SAAAPM) and Association of Anesthesiology Core Program Directors (AACPD), support the guidelines published by the Coalition for Physician Accountability regarding the 2020-2021 recruitment season and COVID-19 (https://www.aamc.org/what-we-do/mission-areas/medical-education/away-rotations-interviews-2020-21-residency-cycle). As such, we make the following recommendations for anesthesiology applicants for the 2020-2021 recruitment season:
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered every aspect of our usual routines and expectations. The ASA, SAAAPM and AACPD strongly support our medical students during this unconventional time and acknowledge the challenges faced by medical schools and residency programs. We are confident that at the conclusion of the 2021 match, each student will find the right program that will shape them into the anesthesiologist of tomorrow.
Click here to download the statement (PDF).