General Surgery Residency: Reimagining the Selection Process

In this episode of MedEd Thread, we speak with Dr. Jeremy Lipman, Director of Graduate Medical Education and Designated Institutional Official, Dr. Judith French, Educational Specialist and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of General Surgery, and Dr. Pooja Varman, General Surgery Resident and Surgical Education Research Fellow, about evolving approaches to resident and fellow selection. They explore the shift from score‑based screening to holistic review, the impact of virtual interviews and application volume and emerging strategies such as program signaling, audition rotations and potential uses of AI. Together, the guests share perspectives from leadership, education research and trainee experiences to highlight how programs can better align selection processes with program culture, learner fit and long‑term success. Tune in to learn how graduate medical education is rethinking recruitment to better support trainees, programs and patient care.