Journal of Regional Medical Campuses

Applicant Selection to a Regional Medical Training Program: A Structural Analysis of Interviewer Assessments

Terry D. Stratton, PhD

University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Carol L. Elam, EdD

University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Paula K. Arnett, DrPH, MBA

Univeristy of Kentucky College of Public Health

Anthony D. Weaver, MD

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jrmc.v3i1.2240

Keywords: admission, rural, regional

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Abstract

Introduction:  For regional campuses with specific program foci, assessing applicant fit necessarily extends beyond academic and professional factors. Based on assessments of applicants to a regional Rural Physician Leadership Program (RPLP), this study explores the relationship of academic and socio-demographic factors with interviewers’ ratings of: (1) likelihood of eventually practicing in a rural area of the state; and (2) overall acceptability to medical school.

Methods:  The study population consisted of 163 first-time RPLP applicants interviewed independently from 2009-2016 by two faculty members at both main and regional medical campuses.  Path analysis was used to calculate direct, indirect, and total effects of applicants’ socio-demographic and academic characteristics on interviewers’ composite ratings. This study protocol (#17-0198-X3B) was approved as exempt by the governing Institutional Review Board; the authors report no conflicts of interest.

Results: The combined influence of being an in-state resident with rural Appalachian origins, combined with undergraduate GPA, explained 40.7% of the variance in applicants’ predicted likelihood of practicing in rural Kentucky. In terms of applicant acceptability, the strongest direct effects were exerted by academic factors, GPA and total MCAT score, and the sole preceding endogenous variable: likelihood of rural in-state practice.  However, two other background factors were modestly but significantly directly associated with overall acceptability:  (1) age; and (2) residence. Specifying likelihood of rural practice as an intervening variable explained 42.5% of the variance in applicant acceptability and provided a good fit to the sample data (X² = 3.19, df = 4 , p = .526, CFI = 1.000, RLI = 1.018, RMSEA = .000).

Conclusions: Interviewers appear to be assessing programmatic, mission-specific “fit” within the broader context of applicants’ abilities to navigate a demanding professional training curriculum. Future research should examine graduates’ eventual practice locations and intermediate academic performance as empirical validity of faculty interviewers’ assessments. Similarly, pre-professional pipeline efforts should better coordinate with training programs to provide consistent opportunities to nurture interest in mission-specific outcomes.

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Author Biographies

Terry D. Stratton, PhD, University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Dr. Stratton is Associate Professor, Department of Behavioral Science at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Carol L. Elam, EdD, University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Dr. Elam is Professor in the Department of Behavioral Science and Associate Dean for Admissions and Institutional Advancement, University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Paula K. Arnett, DrPH, MBA, Univeristy of Kentucky College of Public Health

Dr. Arnett is Assistant Professor, Department of Health Management and Policy and Associate Dean for Administration, University of Kentucky College of Public Health.

Anthony D. Weaver, MD

Dr. Weaver is former Assistant Dean, Rural Physician Leadership Program (RPLP), University of Kentucky College of Medicine.