Hi Dr. Levine. I know that ERAS requires that we upload a picture of ourselves. Do you see this picture or any identifying information like:
1) our home town
2) our race
3) marital status, etc.
before you offer us interviews? I heard that certain identifying information isn't released to you guys until you actually offer us an interview in order to reduce bias. I was just curious. Thanks!
Interesting question. Several years ago the downloaded picture was not "available" until "Selected for interview" was chosen on our ERAS menu options. However, this past year that was no longer the case and the pictures were available. From our perspective the picture does not have any influence on the decision-making. Couples-matching can have an influence especially if your spouse or significant other is a strong applicant in their chosen specialty (which may prompt a phone call from the Program Director in the other specialty) prior to granting of interviews. Home town doesn't play much of a role at all in our decision-making.
With respect to geography, if it comes down to 2 applicants and 1 grew up in California, went to school in California, and did all subinternships in California then the final interview slot may end up going to a Northeastern or midwestern applicant (or vice versa if it's a California program of course).
