Interviewing with PD/aPD vs interviews with non-program leadership

[ChessMaster3000]

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Saw some pretty old threads related to this on the other specialty forums, but not on the IM forum. I was just curious about what people's thoughts are whether IM programs use any gamesmanship when deciding whether the PD or aPD interviews a candidate. I'm NOT talking about the days when the PD is out of town or sick. I'm talking about those days when the PD is in fact interviewing applicants but of course can't interview everyone. Is that assignment random? Is it given to the best candidates of that day? Is it given to the bubble candidates of the day? I could see it being either way.

I interviewed at a place with 10 applicants that day, 2 interviews each, so 20 interview slots. 10 of those interview slots were with program leadership (PD or aPD), meaning 10 slots were with other faculty. Both of my interviews were with program leadership, and I just thought this was a little strange. Any perspective would be much appreciated!

 

[gutonc]

You're overthinking it.

 

[MedcatHouse]

Saw some pretty old threads related to this on the other specialty forums, but not on the IM forum. I was just curious about what people's thoughts are whether IM programs use any gamesmanship when deciding whether the PD or aPD interviews a candidate. I'm NOT talking about the days when the PD is out of town or sick. I'm talking about those days when the PD is in fact interviewing applicants but of course can't interview everyone. Is that assignment random? Is it given to the best candidates of that day? Is it given to the bubble candidates of the day? I could see it being either way.

I interviewed at a place with 10 applicants that day, 2 interviews each, so 20 interview slots. 10 of those interview slots were with program leadership (PD or aPD), meaning 10 slots were with other faculty. Both of my interviews were with program leadership, and I just thought this was a little strange. Any perspective would be much appreciated!

I don't think this matters. I've been to interviews where they explicitly say who interviews with the PD or aPD is absolutely random. There are a lot of people interviewing each day, the PD cannot interview each person and it shouldn't put the others at a disadvantage.

 

[Raryn]

Saw some pretty old threads related to this on the other specialty forums, but not on the IM forum. I was just curious about what people's thoughts are whether IM programs use any gamesmanship when deciding whether the PD or aPD interviews a candidate. I'm NOT talking about the days when the PD is out of town or sick. I'm talking about those days when the PD is in fact interviewing applicants but of course can't interview everyone. Is that assignment random? Is it given to the best candidates of that day? Is it given to the bubble candidates of the day? I could see it being either way.

I interviewed at a place with 10 applicants that day, 2 interviews each, so 20 interview slots. 10 of those interview slots were with program leadership (PD or aPD), meaning 10 slots were with other faculty. Both of my interviews were with program leadership, and I just thought this was a little strange. Any perspective would be much appreciated!

There's 400 IM programs that probably have 400 different answers to that question. I think in mine it is fairly random, but who knows?

 

[DTUD]

Probably random, I mean, is it possible that every once in a while there's a candidate that seems particularly interesting or maybe the leadership just don't know quite what to make of them, or they had an LOR from someone known to somebody in the leadership, or maybe a common shared interest and so one of the PD/aPDs wants to interview them ? Sure, why not.

Are they sitting there and thinking every candidate through to see who interviews with whom ? Probably not.

 

[IMPD]

It's random. My PC splits the interviews up and tries to assign folks who don't interview with me to my senior aPD or the Vice Chair, whoever is there that day. About once a month, I wish that I had interviewed someone because my faculty don't agree on how to rank. We've contemplated not having me interview at all and just do group discussions in order to meet everyone. At the end of the day, we need my role as interviewer.