How Did the Zika Virus Outbreak Impact Residency and Fellowship Recruitment in Miami, FL?

BACKGROUND: In July 2016 South Florida experienced a Zika Virus (ZIKV) outbreak as part of the introduction of the flavivirus in the Americas. At the same time, the National Residency recruiting season was held. The affected area was a mile away from the residency/fellowship training programs of Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH) and University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (UM). The population at risk for severe ZIKV complications include pregnant women. Many of the applicants were women at reproductive age. The factors influencing residency applicants’ choice of training program have been reported. However, no study has analyzed how a local outbreak with proximity to the area of training affects applicants’ choice of programs. METHODS: Following the Match 2017, an electronic survey was sent to 2,256 applicants to 19 JMH/UM graduate medical education (GME) programs (15 residency, 4 fellowship programs). We used quantitative and qualitative analyses to explore factors influencing candidates’ decisions, including the ZIKV outbreak. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 15% (331/2256). The quantitative analysis identified factors that were Òvery important to applicantsÓ rated 4–5/5 (current resident satisfaction; relationship between faculty and residents; collegiality of current residents; location; quantity and quality of faculty content/mentoring; faculty teaching expertise; diversity of patients; diversity of types of procedures), consistent with prior research In contrast, the presence of ZIKV in MDC was Ònot importantÓ; average score of 1.46/5. 10 respondents said that the presence of ZIKV was ÒVery ImportantÓ; 4 were female, 6 were male; 3/10 said ZIKV made the applicant less likely to accept the interview offer; all ultimately accepted the interview. 100% of respondents were aware that ZIKV was in Miami-Dade county. However, only 6 % (19) of respondents were provided information about ZIKV by their interviewed Program. CONCLUSION: ZIKV outbreak was not a significant independent variable affecting likelihood to match at JMH/UM in Miami-Dade County. These results have important implications for the role of local disease outbreaks in affecting recruitment of medical trainees for residency and fellowship programs. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.