TY - JOUR T1 - The unique impact of COVID-19 on orthopedic surgery residency applicants and program directors in Canada JF - Canadian Journal of Surgery JO - CAN J SURG SP - E249 LP - E252 DO - 10.1503/cjs.002021 VL - 64 IS - 2 AU - Ajay Shah AU - Allen A. Champagne AU - Joshua Del Papa AU - Jay Toor AU - Jeremie Larouche AU - Markku T. Nousiainen Y1 - 2021/04/01 UR - http://canjsurg.ca/content/64/2/E249.abstract N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of visiting medical student electives and in-person residency interviews in Canada. Orthopedic surgery residency programs are now curtailed in their ability to self-promote and select optimal applicants. Online and social media tools should be adopted to promote programs. Faculty, residents and trainees should aim to attend virtual social and program information events. Applicants should make efforts to learn about the programs by attending events and reaching out to residents, and strengthen their application through research and other activities to demonstrate their interest and commitment to the field of orthopedic surgery. These efforts may help avoid the prospect of qualified candidates being unranked by programs or residency positions being unfilled. These difficult circumstances may serve to engender collaboration and cooperation across residency programs and medical schools and lay the foundation for a thriving interconnected ecosystem of future orthopedic surgeons. ER -