The role of social media and email in hematology oncology fellowship program recruitment: Insights from national survey of program directors.

9049 Background: In the dynamically evolving medical landscape, the role of digital communication, encompassing both social media and email, in Hematology Oncology fellowship recruitment is increasingly prominent. This comprehensive study investigates how U.S. program directors (PDs) leverage these platforms, particularly in an era where virtual interviews are becoming the norm. By examining the utilization of social media alongside traditional email communications, this research aims to illuminate the dual strategies employed in engaging prospective fellows. Methods: From November to December 2023, a nationwide anonymous survey was conducted among all American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited Hematology Oncology fellowship PDs. This survey sent via SurveyMonkey sought to collect demographic information of PDs, details about their programs, and insights into their use of social media platforms such as Twitter/X and Instagram, in addition to email, for both promoting their programs and reviewing fellowship applications. Results: In a survey of 183 Hematology Oncology fellowship programs, 32 program directors (PDs) responded, yielding an 18% response rate. The majority of PD were women (59%) with a predominant affiliation with university hospitals (69%). The responses indicated a broad geographical spread, especially in the South Atlantic and Pacific regions. Around 31% (10) of the program directors reported using Twitter/X, and 16% (5) utilized Instagram for promoting their fellowship programs. However, it was rarely used for applicant review (10% for Twitter/X, 0% for Instagram). Notably, there was no statistical difference in social media usage between university and community hospital PDs for program promotion or applicant engagement In contrast, email remains central in the recruitment process. On average, each PD receives about 57 emails expressing interest in their program. A considerable 71% (22) of PDs indicated that they would review an applicant who contacted them via email, with an average review rate of 80%. However, a relatively small percentage—18%—of the applicants reviewed were subsequently invited for an interview. Significantly, PDs from university hospitals were more inclined to review applicants via email compared to their counterparts in community hospitals (P-value<0.01). Conclusions: This survey sheds light on the evolving dynamics of Hematology Oncology fellowship recruitment, marking a significant transition in the way program directors connect with potential candidates. Our research reveals that social media is gradually becoming part of the promotional toolkit for fellowship programs, yet email remains the primary method for communicating with and reviewing applicants.