(A1011) Importance of Global Health Opportunities in Residency Selection Among Otolaryngology Applicants

Introduction: Global health opportunities play an increasingly significant role in the career decisions of medical trainees. However, their influence on residency selection among otolaryngology - head and neck surgery (OHNS) applicants has not been well characterized. The objective of the study was to evaluate the importance of a residency program’s global health opportunities on OHNS applicants’ residency selection.

Methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional electronic survey of individuals who applied to OHNS residency in the United States in the years 2023 and 2024. It was distributed via snowball sampling and through electronic residency professional forums.

Results: 52 complete responses were analyzed, representing medical school graduates from 18 states and 2 abroad. The average rating of global health importance in residency selection was 2.4 (SD 0.9) on a 1–4 scale (1=not at all important; 2=slightly important; 3=moderately important; 4=very important). Motivations for engagement in global health included opportunities to learn about new cultures (76.5%), career interest in working in a domestic resource-constrained setting (60.8%), career interest in working internationally (54.9%), and interest in working in low-resource settings (50.9%). Faculty mentorship (80.4%), funding opportunities (64.7%), research/elective time for global health (60.8%), and prior resident involvement in global health activities (66.7%) were among the most influential factors in residency selection. 56.9% of respondents reported prior engagement in global health activities (mean 1.5 unique global health experiences, SD 1.9).

Conclusions: Global health opportunities can be an important factor in OHNS applicants’ residency selection. Mentorship, funding, and institutional support for global health are key to attracting applicants with an interest in both domestic and global health disparities.