I Can’t Breathe during Interviews — The Incomplete Penetrance of Antiracism

This personal narrative exposes the challenges faced by a Black female applicant during OB/GYN residency interviews, where systemic racism manifested through hostile questioning about her published work on racial disparities in clinical trials. The author describes the psychological toll of navigating "White fragility" in interviewers while suppressing emotions like anger to avoid reinforcing stereotypes. Despite matching at her top choice institution (UCSF), she critiques the lack of antiracism training for faculty and calls for standardized interviews to mitigate bias. The piece underscores the need for structural reforms in residency selection to address racism and create equitable opportunities for underrepresented applicants.

This personal narrative exposes the challenges faced by a Black female applicant during OB/GYN residency interviews, where systemic racism manifested through hostile questioning about her published work on racial disparities in clinical trials. The author describes the psychological toll of navigating "White fragility" in interviewers while suppressing emotions like anger to avoid reinforcing stereotypes. Despite matching at her top choice institution (UCSF), she critiques the lack of antiracism training for faculty and calls for standardized interviews to mitigate bias. The piece underscores the need for structural reforms in residency selection to address racism and create equitable opportunities for underrepresented applicants.