Background: In 2008, the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD) assembled a panel of program directors (PDs), associate PDs, and emergency medicine (EM) faculty members to discuss the state of diversity in EM andto develop a set of “best practice” recruitment strategies designed to increase the number under-represented minorities (URMs) in EM residency training programs. Objective: To evaluate the perceived importance of factors significant in influencing URM candidate residency program selection.

1. Factors Important to Under-Represented
Minority Applicants when Selecting an
Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Boatright D, Simon J, Jarou Z, Tunson J, Flores S, Heron S, Gisondi M, Druck J
Denver Health/University of Colorado, Emory, Highland, Northwestern

2. Factors Important to Under-Represented Minority Applicants when Selecting an Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Boatright D, Simon J, Jarou Z, Tunson J, Flores S, Heron S, Gisondi M, Druck J
Denver Health/University of Colorado, Emory, Highland, Northwestern
De-identified responses were collected via a
web-based survey sent to a convenience
sample of self-identified URM students and
their non-URM peers who applied to four
different EM residency programs in 2014.
Comparison of USMLE scores, number of
programs applied to, number of interviews
received, home EM program by URM status
Assessment of perceived importance of 21
program factors applicants consider when
selecting a residency by URM status
In 2008, the Council of Emergency
Medicine Residency Directors (CORD)
assembled a panel of program directors
(PDs), associate PDs, and emergency
medicine (EM) faculty members to
discuss the state of diversity in EM and
to develop a set of “best practice”
recruitment strategies designed to
increase the number under-represented
minorities (URMs) in EM residency
training programs.
BACKGROUND METHODS
Sheryl L. Heron, MD, MPH, Elise O. Lovell, MD, Ernest Wang, MD, and Steven H. Bowman, MD. “Promoting Diversity in Emergency Medicine:
Summary Recommendations from the 2008 Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD) Academic Assembly Diversity Workgroup.”
To evaluate the perceived importance of
factors significant in influencing URM
candidate residency program selection.
OBJECTIVE

3. Factors Important to Under-Represented Minority Applicants when Selecting an Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Boatright D, Simon J, Jarou Z, Tunson J, Flores S, Heron S, Gisondi M, Druck J
Denver Health/University of Colorado, Emory, Highland, Northwestern
METHODS
MEDIAN USMLE SCORES (IQR)DEMOGRAPHICS
Overall: Average age 28 years old. 54% Male.
135 self-identified non-URM applicants
91% White
17% Asian
4% LGBTQ
101 self-identified URM applicants
49% Black or African American
47% Hispanic or Latino
22% White
7% American Indian or Alaskan Native
3% Asian
7% LGBTQ
Non-URM URM
Step 1* 238 (227-248) 226.5 (212-240)
Step 2* 249 (239-259) 240 (225-250)
2014 Mean Scores for Matched US Seniors: Step 1 (230), Step 2 (243)
MEDIAN APPLICATION DATA (IQR)
Non-URM URM
Applications 35 (30-45) 39 (30-50)
Interviews* 20 (13-26) 15 (6-23)
HOME RESIDENCY PROGRAM (95% CI)
Non-URM URM
Yes* 81% (73-87%) 66% (56-75%)

4. Factors Important to Under-Represented Minority Applicants when Selecting an Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Boatright D, Simon J, Jarou Z, Tunson J, Flores S, Heron S, Gisondi M, Druck J
Denver Health/University of Colorado, Emory, Highland, Northwestern
FOURTEEN PROGRAM FACTORS OF SIMILAR IMPORTANCE

5. Factors Important to Under-Represented Minority Applicants when Selecting an Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Boatright D, Simon J, Jarou Z, Tunson J, Flores S, Heron S, Gisondi M, Druck J
Denver Health/University of Colorado, Emory, Highland, Northwestern
SEVEN PROGRAM FACTORS MORE IMPORTANT TO URM APPLICANTS

6. Factors Important to Under-Represented Minority Applicants when Selecting an Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Boatright D, Simon J, Jarou Z, Tunson J, Flores S, Heron S, Gisondi M, Druck J
Denver Health/University of Colorado, Emory, Highland, Northwestern
METHODS
URM and non-URM applicants applied to
the same number of programs but URMs
received fewer interviews. It is unclear if
this is related to lower USMLE scores or
lack of quality advising information related
to not having a home EM residency
program.
Regardless of URM status, the most
important factors in choosing a residency
program were:
 interaction with the residents
 the interview day experience
 geographic location
 program reputation
 serving a diverse patient population
CONCLUSIONS
Program factors more important to URM
applicants include:
 diversity of residents and faculty
 program affirming a commitment to
diversity including a website statement
 serving patients of a similar background
 residency involvement with community
outreach programs and pipeline programs
Limitations
 While this study showed a difference
between URM and non-URM USMLE
scores at these 4 competitive programs,
this may not reflect national trends
 Applicants may have reported interviews
attended rather than invites received

7. Factors Important to Under-Represented Minority Applicants when Selecting an Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Boatright D, Simon J, Jarou Z, Tunson J, Flores S, Heron S, Gisondi M, Druck J
Denver Health/University of Colorado, Emory, Highland, Northwestern
METHODS
URM and non-URM applicants applied to
the same number of programs but URMs
received fewer interviews. It is unclear if
this is related to lower USMLE scores or
lack of quality advising information related
to not having a home EM residency
program.
Regardless of URM status, the most
important factors in choosing a residency
program were:
 interaction with the residents
 the interview day experience
 geographic location
 program reputation
 serving a diverse patient population
CONCLUSIONS
Program factors more important to URM
applicants include:
 diversity of residents and faculty
 program affirming a commitment to
diversity including a website statement
 serving patients of a similar background
 residency involvement with community
outreach programs and pipeline programs
Limitations
 While this study showed a difference
between URM and non-URM USMLE
scores at these 4 competitive programs,
this may not reflect national trends
 Applicants may have reported interviews
attended rather than invites received