“What Program Directors Think” VI: Results of the 2024 Survey of the APDR Part 1

Rationale and Objectives: The Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR) surveys its members for data gathering on educational practices and challenges in radiology residency training including changes in the residency application process. Materials and Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study using a Web-based survey. Members of the 2022–2023 Annual Survey Committee developed survey questions resulting in 40 items, including demographic data. The survey was distributed by email to all active members of the APDR in January and February of 2024. In this paper, analysis of the radiology program directors’ (PD) use of information in the supplemental application to the Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS), including the latest changes in preference signaling is presented. Results: Responses were collected electronically, tallied using Qualtrics software, tabulated or summarized. The total survey response rate was 31% (84/247). The results of this survey were presented at the annual Association of University Radiologists meeting in Boston, MA (April 2024). Conclusion: Survey results find preference signaling in ERAS® useful and support the recent increase in the number of signals using the two-tiered system. PDs see no significant difference in applicant competitiveness in the gold and silver signal cohorts. Other information in the ERAS supplemental application, such as applicants’ geographic preferences and meaningful experiences, are most impactful on an applicants’ chances of receiving an interview in the absence of a preference signal.