1
|
Çalış F, Şimşek AT, İnan NG, Topyalın N, Adam BE, Elias Ç, Aksu ME, Aladdam M, Gültekin G, Sorkun MH, Tez M, Balak N. Factors Affecting Turkish Medical Students' Pursuit of a Career in Neurosurgery: A Single Center Survey Study. World Neurosurg 2024; 185:e926-e943. [PMID: 38460813 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.02.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Statistics show that over the past 2 decades, even in high-income countries, fewer and fewer students have listed neurosurgery as their top career option. Literature on medical students' pursuit of neurosurgical careers in middle- and low-income countries are scarce. The aim of this research, conducted in Turkey with a middle-income economy, was to contribute insights relevant to medical education and neurosurgery across the world. METHODS A survey was conducted with a target sample of fourth-year (167 students), fifth-year (169 students), and sixth-year (140 students) medical students (476 in total) from the Medical School at Istanbul Medeniyet University in Turkey. The response rates of the fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-year students were 62% (104/167), 53% (90/169), and 50% (70/140), respectively (in total, 266, including 147 female and 119 male). RESULTS In terms of the genuine intention, only 2.5% of men and 2.7% of women were committed to specializing in neurosurgery. This study further revealed that possible reasons for these students' low motivation to specialize in neurosurgery were their beliefs that in neurosurgery, the physical and psychological demands were high, and the night shifts were intense, meaning they would not have a social life or spare time for their hobbies; that morbidity/mortality were high; and that financial incentives were insufficient, especially in public institutions. CONCLUSION Turkish medical students did not rank neurosurgery at the top of their career choices. Possible reasons for this are socioeconomic factors and the inadequate introduction of neurosurgery to medical students.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatih Çalış
- Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Prof. Dr. SüleymanYalçın City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Abdullah Talha Şimşek
- Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Prof. Dr. SüleymanYalçın City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | | | - Nur Topyalın
- Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Prof. Dr. SüleymanYalçın City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Baha E Adam
- Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Prof. Dr. SüleymanYalçın City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Çimen Elias
- Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Prof. Dr. SüleymanYalçın City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Muhammed Emin Aksu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Prof. Dr. SüleymanYalçın City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Mohammed Aladdam
- Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Prof. Dr. SüleymanYalçın City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Güliz Gültekin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Prof. Dr. SüleymanYalçın City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | | | - Müjgan Tez
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Naci Balak
- Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Prof. Dr. SüleymanYalçın City Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shah H, Pandey K, Raheja A, Garg K, Singla R, Mishra S, Tandon V, Servadei F, Kale S. Neurosurgery as a Top-Drawer Choice for Residency in India: Reality or Myth? World Neurosurg 2024; 183:e512-e521. [PMID: 38184225 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.12.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This survey was conducted to explore the perceptions of undergraduate (UG) medical students regarding enrolling in a neurosurgical training program. The purpose was to understand' expectations, reasons, apprehensions, and variables influencing students' decisions to pursue a career in neurosurgery. The results shed light on students' perceptions and can help educational institutions and training programs draw in and encourage aspiring neurosurgeons. METHODS A 35-point online questionnaire was created using Google Forms (Google LLC) after content and face validation and circulated using social media platforms among various public medical colleges across India. Responses were collected over a period of 3 months, from February 2023 to April 2023. A 5-point Likert scale was used to collect the responses wherever applicable. RESULTS A total of 1042 respondents from 47 medical colleges completed the survey. The majority of the students were not exposed to neurosurgery during their UG program, but despite this, 60.1% (n = 627) were willing to consider it as their career option. Around 91.4% of the respondents perceived neurosurgery to be a challenging but prestigious specialty that has a long learning curve and the worst work-life balance when compared with other specialties. The majority of the respondents (strongly disagree = 24.3%, n = 253; disagree = 31.7%, n = 330) did not view neurosurgery as a male-dominated specialty. Most students preferred a 6-year training program over a 3-year program (P = 0.001) if their medical college had such a course. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals that although a majority of the UG students would like to join neurosurgery residency, there are significant barriers in the form of less exposure, negative perceptions, and apprehensions toward the branch. Enhancing medical students' awareness about neurosurgery necessitates the integration of hands-on workshops, simulation-based training, didactic lectures, and neurosurgery rotations into the UG curriculum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Het Shah
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Kushagra Pandey
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Amol Raheja
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Kanwaljeet Garg
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Raghav Singla
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shashwat Mishra
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Vivek Tandon
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
| | - Franco Servadei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Shashank Kale
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rodriguez-Armendariz AG, Saint-Germain MA, Khalafallah AM, Huq S, Almeida ND, Dornbos DL, Graffeo CS, Sivakumar W, Mukherjee D, Johnson JN. The neurosurgery research & education foundation-young neurosurgeons committee webinar series: Providing education and inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Clin Neurosci 2024; 120:221-228. [PMID: 38295463 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2024.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Young Neurosurgeons Committee (YNC) and Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation (NREF) launched the YNC-NREF Webinar Series to provide young and aspiring neurosurgeons with timely information, education, and inspiration in the absence of in-person programming. DESIGN Five 90-minute Zoom webinars were evaluated, each including 1-2 keynote speakers, a panel discussion, and an audience question-and-answer section. Topics included overviews of neurosurgery, the match, subspecialties, and inspirational career stories. Optional pre- and post-webinar surveys with 11-point Likert-type scores were distributed to attendees. We compared groups using chi-squared and Kruskal-Willis tests, and perceptions pre- and post-webinar using Mann-Whitney tests. SETTING The webinars were live using Zoom, and the recordings were published on NREF's YouTube channel. PARTICIPANTS The webinar series targeted young neurosurgeons. The first five episodes had a particular focus on medical students and undergraduates. RESULTS A total of 673 unique participants attended the webinar series; 257 (38%) and 78 (11%) attendees completed the pre- and post-webinar survey, respectively. Respondents had high baseline interest in neurosurgery and were motivated to learn about the match and training in the US, understand neurosurgeons' day-to-day lives, and ask questions. There were significant differences in perceptions between USMSs, IMSs, and undergraduate students. The webinar improved attendees' knowledge about neurosurgical specialties, the match, and US neurosurgery training. CONCLUSIONS The YNC and NREF effectively engaged a large, diverse audience through an online webinar series, building a foundation for future virtual programming by organized neurosurgery. ACGME competencies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana G Rodriguez-Armendariz
- Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Tecnologico de Monterrey. 2501 Eugenio Garza Sada, Nuevo León, Monterrey 64849, Mexico.
| | - Max A Saint-Germain
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 1800 Orleans St. Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
| | - Adham M Khalafallah
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1475 Northwest 12th Avenue, Floor 1, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Sakibul Huq
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Presbyterian, Suite B-400, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Neil D Almeida
- The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, 23000 St NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 131 Biomedical Education Building, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
| | - David L Dornbos
- Department of Neurosurgery, Semmes-Murphey Clinic, 6325 Humphreys Blvd, Memphis, TN 38120, USA
| | - Christopher S Graffeo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Walavan Sivakumar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, 2125 Arizona Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA
| | - Debraj Mukherjee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 1800 Orleans St. Baltimore, MD, USA 21287.
| | - Jeremiah N Johnson
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, 7200 Cambridge, Suite 9A, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, 300 Stein Plaza, Suite 562, Box 956901, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6901, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Faisal UH, Idrissi YA, Chaurasia B, Takasumi A, Baldoncini M, Patel A, Monteith S, McDougall C, Costa M. Advancing neurosurgical education in the age of online learning and global knowledge sharing: impact of Cerebrovascular Q&A webinar series. Front Surg 2023; 10:1274954. [PMID: 38107404 PMCID: PMC10723828 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2023.1274954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Seattle Science Foundation created the Cerebrovascular Q&A series as a free web-based tool to educate physicians and physicians-in-training about cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery across geographical boundaries and different levels of training. Objective This study aims to assess the educational impact and clinical implications of the Cerebrovascular Q&A webinar series, hosted by the Seattle Science Foundation. Methods A digital anonymous, self-administered survey was sent to the live webinar participants. The survey contained questions about the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, their perception of the content of the webinar series, and its impact on academic and clinical practice. The data collected from the Survey-Monkey platform was exported to Microsoft Excel which was used to perform all statistical analyses. The viewer metrics on Zoom and YouTube were also analyzed to understand trends observed among a diverse global cohort of participants. Result A total of 2,057 people hailing from 141 countries had registered for the Cerebrovascular Q&A series. The response rate to the questionnaire was 12.63% (n = 260). Respondents hailed from 65 countries, of which the majority were from India (13.46%, n = 35) and United States (11.15%, n = 29). Most of the participants were male (82.69%, n = 215), while only 15.77% (n = 41) were female. The maximum number of participants were neurosurgery attendings (36.65%, n = 92) followed by neurosurgeons undergoing fellowship training (24.70%, n = 62) and students who were currently in residency training (15.54%, n = 39). 75.97% (n = 196) heard of the Cerebrovascular Q&A series through the emails from Seattle Science Foundation. 21.5% (n = 56) learned about the webinar series through social media. 75% of participants reported that the webinar content was advanced and comprehensive, and the selection of speakers was relevant. 63.08% (n = 164) found the webinars sparked innovative research ideas. Additionally, 55% (n = 143) reported changes in their clinical practice based on the acquired knowledge. Conclusion The findings from this study reveal that webinar-based medical education in cerebrovascular neurosurgery is highly effective and influential. Web-based platforms and social media present a potent strategy to overcome barriers, emphasizing the need for targeted efforts to engage more women in medicine and neurosurgery recruitment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Umme Habiba Faisal
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Yassine Alami Idrissi
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Bipin Chaurasia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Clinic, Birgunj, Nepal
| | | | - Matias Baldoncini
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Hospital San Fernando, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Akshal Patel
- Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Stephen Monteith
- Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Cameron McDougall
- Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Matias Costa
- Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Efe IE, Çinkaya E, Kuhrt LD, Bruesseler MMT, Mührer-Osmanagic A. Neurosurgical Education Using Cadaver-Free Brain Models and Augmented Reality: First Experiences from a Hands-On Simulation Course for Medical Students. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1791. [PMID: 37893509 PMCID: PMC10608257 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59101791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Neurosurgery has been underrepresented in the medical school curriculum. Advances in augmented reality and 3D printing have opened the way for early practical training through simulations. We assessed the usability of the UpSurgeOn simulation-based training model and report first experiences from a hands-on neurosurgery course for medical students. Materials and Methods: We organized a two-day microneurosurgery simulation course tailored to medical students. On day one, three neurosurgeons demonstrated anatomical explorations with the help of life-like physical simulators (BrainBox, UpSurgeOn). The surgical field was projected onto large high-definition screens by a robotic-assisted exoscope (RoboticScope, BHS Technologies). On day two, the students were equipped with microsurgical instruments to explore the surgical anatomy of the pterional, temporal and endoscopic retrosigmoid approaches. With the help of the RoboticScope, they simulated five clipping procedures using the Aneurysm BrainBox. All medical students filled out a digital Likert-scale-based questionnaire to evaluate their experiences. Results: Sixteen medical students participated in the course. No medical students had previous experience with UpSurgeOn. All participants agreed that the app helped develop anatomical orientation. They unanimously agreed that this model should be part of residency training. Fourteen out of sixteen students felt that the course solidified their decision to pursue neurosurgery. The same fourteen students rated their learning experience as totally positive, and the remaining two rated it as rather positive. Conclusions: The UpSurgeOn educational app and cadaver-free models were perceived as usable and effective tools for the hands-on neuroanatomy and neurosurgery teaching of medical students. Comparative studies may help measure the long-term benefits of UpSurgeOn-assisted teaching over conventional resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim E. Efe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Emre Çinkaya
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Sevilla, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Leonard D. Kuhrt
- Department of Traumatology and Reconstructive Surgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Melanie M. T. Bruesseler
- Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80539 Munich, Germany
- The GKT School of Medical Education, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Armin Mührer-Osmanagic
- Department of Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery, Schulthess Klinik, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Minta KJ, Sescu D, Da Luz D, Kaliaperumal C. Global Mentorship in Neurosurgery for Medical Students Study (the GloMNMS Study): a multinational multi-institutional cross-sectional audit. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e071696. [PMID: 37553200 PMCID: PMC10414126 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the perception of global mentorship in neurosurgery among medical students across the world. Secondary aim included investigating the factors affecting the availability and benefits of providing global mentorship scheme in neurosurgery at a medical student level. SETTING The Global Mentorship in Neurosurgery for Medical Students Study was a multinational cross-sectional audit that included medical students currently in the years 1-6 and intercalating programmes. They were invited to complete an online survey between 11 March and 1 May 2022. PARTICIPANTS The survey was disseminated to 243 medical university ambassadors worldwide from 60 countries who distributed the survey within their respective medical student cohorts across the duration of the study. RESULTS Overall, 2962 of 3017 (98.2%) responses from medical students from 60 countries worldwide were included; 1439 of 2962 (49%) and 1523 of 2962 (51%) were from years 1-3 and 4-6 medical students including intercalating degree programmes, respectively. 1712, 1502 and 1359 of responses gathered indicated that possible reasons for the lack of neurosurgical mentorship are lack of time and resources from trainees in neurosurgery, time within medical school's curriculum and awareness of societies in neurosurgery/neurology. 1276 and 1065 of medical students surveyed reported that it could also be due to lack of funding and overall inaccessibility within the area meaning there are few networking opportunities available. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study indicates that there is a scope for improvement regarding the availability and accessibility of neurosurgical mentorship programmes worldwide at a medical student level. The evaluation suggested that medical students would most benefit from the neurosurgical mentorship in the future by means of increased numbers of mentors within their universities, accessibility to neurosurgical departments and the ability to choose mentorship globally via a unified digital platform.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Julia Minta
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Daniel Sescu
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Dominique Da Luz
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rallo MS, Radwanski RE, Pannullo SC. In Reply to the Letter to the Editor Regarding "Reevaluating Innovations in Medical Student Neurosurgery Education: Lessons Learned Today from Data Collected Before COVID-19". World Neurosurg 2023; 174:235. [PMID: 37270216 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.03.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Rallo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA; Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| | - Ryan E Radwanski
- Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Susan C Pannullo
- Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chan SM, Gardezi M, Satam K, Brahmandam A, Aboian E, Strosberg D, Cardella J, Ochoa Chaar CI. Virtual vascular surgery interest group during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. J Vasc Surg 2023; 77:279-285.e2. [PMID: 36041674 PMCID: PMC9419433 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Early exposure to vascular surgery at the medical student level positively influences one's decision to apply into an integrated vascular surgery residency program. Vascular surgery interest groups (VSIGs) are student-run and aim to facilitate such exposure, traditionally via in-person events. Social distancing during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic disrupted these interactions. This is a description of the virtual activities of a VSIG group during the 2020-2021 academic year and highlights their impact among medical students. METHODS The virtual activities of the VSIG at the Yale School of Medicine were reviewed. Students received surveys prior and after activities to assess their impact. Preactivity and postactivity surveys using Likert scale (1 = completely disagree; 5 = completely agree) were administered and compared. Statistical significance was achieved with a P value of less than .05. RESULTS A total of five virtual events were held: an Introductory Session (October 2020), a Simulation Session (November 2020), a Research Night (January 2021), a Journal Club (February 2021), and a National Match Panel (April 2021). The surveys of three events (Introductory Session, Simulation Session, and National Match Panel) were analyzed. Attendance at these events were 18, 55, and 103 respectively. The average presurvey response rate was 51.2% and the average postsurvey response rate was 27.46%. Students agreed that the Introductory Session increased their knowledge about vascular surgery as a subspecialty (4.22 ± 0.67) and that the session was valuable to their time (4.33 ± 1.00). The Simulation Session increased student's comfort with knot tying from 1.73 ± 0.89 to 3.21 ± 1.25 (P < .001). Students reported an increased understanding of residency program selection (2.39 ± 1.10 vs 3.21 ± 1.12; P = .018), the Electronic Residency Application Service application (2.16 ± 1.01 vs 3.00 ± 0.88; P = .007), and letters of recommendation (2.45 ± 1.07 vs 3.14 ± 1.17; P = .04). Students particularly had a significant increase in the understanding of the logistics of residency interviews, which were held virtually that year for the first time (1.84 ± 0.96 vs 3.29 ± 1.20; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Virtual VSIG activities were feasible and effective during the pandemic in promoting student engagement and interest in vascular surgery. Despite lifting social distancing measures, the virtual format could become a valuable tool to expand outreach efforts of the vascular surgery community to recruit talented medical students.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Anand Brahmandam
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Edouard Aboian
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - David Strosberg
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Jonathan Cardella
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Cassius Iyad Ochoa Chaar
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pugazenthi S, Islam AA, Sivakumar W, Dornbos DL, Johnson JN, Wolfe SQ, Graffeo CS. Assessing opportunities for formal exposure to clinical neurosurgery within United States allopathic medical education curricula. J Neurosurg 2022:1-7. [PMID: 36681957 DOI: 10.3171/2022.11.jns221484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate opportunities for early clinical exposure to neurosurgery at US allopathic medical schools and to assess associations between early exposure and recruitment into neurosurgery. METHODS The authors conducted a standardized review of online curriculum documentation for all US allopathic medical schools, including descriptive review of opportunities for clinical neurosurgical training among medical students. Chi-square analysis was used to compare baseline characteristics of institutions. Logistic regression was performed to assess factors predictive of early exposure to clinical neurosurgery, defined as completion of a formal rotation at least 6 months prior to Electronic Residency Application Service submission. RESULTS Among 155 allopathic US medical schools, 143 are fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Eleven schools have no affiliated hospitals with a neurosurgery practice, and 26 do not have an American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) medical student chapter. Overall, 94 (60.6%) have a traditional preclinical curriculum lasting 21-25 months, 50 (32.3%) offer an intermediate preclinical period of 15-20 months, and 11 (7.1%) report a short preclinical curriculum of 12-14 months. Early formal exposure to clinical neurosurgery was offered by 113 schools (72.9%). Early clinical exposure to neurosurgery was associated with a short (100%) or intermediate (76%) preclinical curriculum, as compared with a traditional curriculum (68.1%; p = 0.066). Early exposure was significantly associated with a shorter preclinical curriculum (OR 0.784, p = 0.005). AANS medical student chapters were present at a high majority of schools with early exposure (OR 4.114, p = 0.006). Medical schools with a higher percentage of graduating medical students matching into neurosurgery were associated with a shorter preclinical curriculum length (β = -0.287, p < 0.001), were more commonly private medical schools (β = 0.338, p < 0.001), and had early clinical exposure to neurosurgery (β = 0.191, p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS Early exposure to clinical neurosurgery is available at most US allopathic medical schools and is associated with shorter preclinical curricula and institutions with AANS medical student chapters. Medical schools with a higher proportion of medical students entering neurosurgery had a shorter preclinical curriculum length and early clinical exposure to neurosurgery. Further study is recommended to characterize the impact of early exposure on long-term pedagogical outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sangami Pugazenthi
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Aseeyah A Islam
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | | | - David L Dornbos
- 3Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Jeremiah N Johnson
- 4Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Stacey Q Wolfe
- 5Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Martini ML, Shrivastava RK, Kellner CP, Morgenstern PF. Evaluation of a Role for Virtual Neurosurgical Education for Medical Students Over 2 Years of a Global Pandemic. World Neurosurg 2022; 166:e253-e262. [PMID: 35803566 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.06.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subinternships are critical experiences for medical students applying into neurosurgery to acquire knowledge of the field and network with colleagues. During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, in-person rotations were suspended for 2020 and reduced for 2021. In 2020, our department developed a neurosurgical course to address this need. The course was continued in 2021, enabling assessment of student perceptions as the pandemic progresses. METHODS The virtual course consisted of weekly 1-hour seminars over a 3- to 4-month period. Prior to starting, participants were sent a comprehensive survey assessing their backgrounds, experiences, and confidences in core concepts across neurosurgical subdisciplines. Participants also completed postcourse surveys assessing the course's value and their confidence in the same topics. Responses from students completing both precourse and postcourse surveys were included, analyzed in pairwise fashion, and compared across course years. RESULTS Students shared similar baseline characteristics in terms of demographics, educational background, and exposure to neurosurgery prior to the course. In the 2020 and 2021 cohorts, quality ratings for presentations were favorable for all seminars, and participants reported significantly increased confidence in core topics across all neurosurgical disciplines after the course (2020: 3.36 ± 0.26, P < 0.0001; 2021: 3.56 ± 0.93, P = 0.005). Most participants felt the course would remain useful following the pandemic in both the 2020 (96.9%) and 2021 (100.0%) cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Survey results suggest that the course adds value for students seeking a basic didactic curriculum to supplement their education, and perhaps, an online curriculum for medical students would still be beneficial going forward as in-person rotations resume.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Martini
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Raj K Shrivastava
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Christopher P Kellner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Peter F Morgenstern
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Shlobin NA, Radwanski RE, Sandhu MRS, Rosseau G, Dahdaleh NS. Increasing Equity in Medical Student Neurosurgery Education Through Distance Learning. World Neurosurg 2022; 163:187-196.e8. [PMID: 35729820 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Addressing equitable opportunities for medical student (MS) education is important for minimizing disparities in neurosurgical care. However, international MSs, particularly from low- and middle-middle income countries (LMICs) may lack access to educational opportunities compared with their contemporaries in high-income countries. We compare the usefulness of virtual neurosurgery training camps (VNTC) between U.S. and international MSs. METHODS A survey assessing demographics, baseline interests, and ratings of usefulness was sent to attendees after the VNTC. Ratings were compared between international and U.S. MSs. RESULTS Thirty-three (27.7%) of 119 attendees were international MSs, of whom 24 (72.7%) were from LMICs. International MSs were more likely to hold an advanced degree (P = 0.0009), more likely to be MS3/MS4s (P = 0.0111) or postdoctoral (P < 0.0001), and less likely to be MS1/MS2s (P = 0.0059). After the VNTC, international MSs reported greater increase in interest in neurosurgery in general (P = 0.0009) and subspecialties of spine (P = 0.0002), peripheral nerve (P = 0.002), vascular (P = 0.0468), functional/epilepsy (P = 0.001), pediatric (P = 0.0285), and trauma/neurocritical care (P = 0.0067). International MSs reported greater post-VNTC willingness to pursue a career in neurosurgery (P = 0.0001), likelihood of taking a year off during medical school (P = 0.0363), and preparedness for subinternships (P = 0.0003). International MSs reported greater increases in awareness of burnout (P = 0.0157) and work-life balance in neurosurgery (P = 0.0249). CONCLUSIONS International MSs experience prolonged periods of education before applying to residency and have unmet informational needs. Distance learning is useful for international MSs. MS neurosurgery education, through online platforms, represents a long-term strategy for addressing disparities in neurosurgical care worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Shlobin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA.
| | - Ryan E Radwanski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Mani Ratnesh S Sandhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Gail Rosseau
- Department of Neurological Surgery, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nader S Dahdaleh
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Shlobin NA, Kortz MW, Radwanski RE, Dahdaleh NS. Distance Learning for Medical Students without a Neurosurgery Interest Group. World Neurosurg 2022; 163:197-204.e8. [PMID: 35729821 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Interest groups for medical students (MSs) facilitate interest and engagement in neurosurgery. Students without interest groups are at a disadvantage as a result of greater barriers to exposure. We aimed to compare the usefulness of a virtual neurosurgery training camp for MSs with and without interest groups. METHODS A survey assessing demographics, interests, and ratings of informativeness and usefulness was sent to attendees of virtual neurosurgery training camps. Ratings were quantified on modified 7-point Likert scales. Data were compared between respondents with and without neurosurgery interest groups. RESULTS Students without an interest group were less likely to be MS1/MS2 (P = 0.0007) and more likely to be postdoctoral students (P = 0.0017). Students without an interest group were less likely to list breakout sessions as their primary reason for attendance (P = 0.0007), more likely to rate the resident panel as most useful (P = 0.0429), and less likely to rate the breakout session as most useful (P = 0.0231). Students without interest groups reported greater increases in interest in neurosurgery in general (P = 0.0284) and subspecialties of spine (P = 0.0003), peripheral nerve (P = 0.0054), and pediatric (P = 0.0137). There was no difference in willingness to pursue a neurosurgical career (P = 0.06), likelihood of taking a year off during medical school (P = 0.45), or preparedness for subinternships (P = 0.18) or residency application process (P = 0.43). CONCLUSIONS Distance learning increases both general and subspecialty-specific interest in neurosurgery among MSs without neurosurgery interest groups to a greater degree than among those with interest groups. Future initiatives seeking to benefit students without home programs should address the specific concerns of these students.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Shlobin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA.
| | - Michael W Kortz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Ryan E Radwanski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Nader S Dahdaleh
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Radwanski RE, Shlobin NA, Sandhu MRS, Aldos L, Pannullo SC. Neurosurgical Education for Medical Students: A Scoping Review. World Neurosurg 2022; 163:155-163.e6. [PMID: 35729816 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Neurosurgeons have a rich history of involvement in medical student education. We review the scope of related published works with the goal of highlighting recently increased efforts to innovate in neurosurgical education and discuss where future efforts must go. A scoping review was performed after comprehensive search of PubMed MEDLINE and Embase databases. Among the 2314 articles returned in the search, 54 were selected for inclusion and review. Articles are discussed in the context of neurosurgery electives, American Association of Neurological Surgeons chapters and medical school programs, national neurosurgery courses, neurosurgery education materials, neurosurgery career perceptions, and the impact of coronavirus disease 2019. Despite increasing need for neurosurgical education in medical school, available experiences in formal curricula are diminishing. Longitudinal exposure to neurosurgery throughout medical school will help ensure a foundational understanding of neurosurgical disease management for all physicians and provide a pathway of exploration, education, and mentorship for the most suitable candidates. Neurosurgery faculty mentorship is particularly important to ensure that the next generation of neurologic surgeons is well equipped to treat patients, catalyze innovative research, and espouse both diverse perspectives and novel ideas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan E Radwanski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA.
| | - Nathan A Shlobin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Mani Ratnesh S Sandhu
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Lana Aldos
- Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Susan C Pannullo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Radwanski RE, Winston G, Younus I, Guadix SW, Shlobin NA, Rothbaum M, Kortz MW, Campbell JM, Evins A, Greenfield JP, Pannullo SC. Reevaluating Innovations in Medical Student Neurosurgery Education: Lessons Learned Today from Data Collected Before COVID-19. World Neurosurg 2022; 163:171-178. [PMID: 35729818 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Virtual learning has made neurosurgery education more available to medical students (MSs) of all stages than ever before. We aimed to evaluate the impact of on-site learning in order to assess whether a return to this method of teaching, when safe, is warranted for MSs of all years. METHODS Registrants of the 2019 MS Neurosurgery Training Camps were sent precourse and postcourse surveys to assess changes in self-assessed confidence in concrete neurosurgical skills. Data were analyzed using a 2-tailed paired Student's t-test for continuous variables. A P value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS The 2019 Training Camp had 105 attendees, of whom 94 (89.5%) completed both surveys. Students reported statistically significant improvements in every surveyed skill area, except for understanding what is and is not sterile in an operating room. The cohort of MS 3/4 students indicated a postcourse decrease in confidence in their ability to understand what is and is not sterile in an operating room (93.69 ± 16.41 vs. 86.20 ± 21.18; P < 0.05). MS 3/4 students did not benefit in their ability to perform a neurologic examination or tie knots using a 1-handed technique. CONCLUSIONS Neurosurgical education initiatives for MSs should continue to be developed. Hands-on neurosurgical training experiences for MSs serve as a valuable educational experience. Improvement in training models will lead to capitalizing on MS education to better improve readiness for neurosurgical residency without concern for patient safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan E Radwanski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA.
| | - Graham Winston
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| | - Iyan Younus
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sergio W Guadix
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| | - Nathan A Shlobin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| | - Michael Rothbaum
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| | - Michael W Kortz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| | - Justin M Campbell
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| | - Alexander Evins
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Greenfield
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| | - Susan C Pannullo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Antar A, Feghali J, Wicks EE, Sattari SA, Li S, Witham TF, Brem H, Huang J. Which medical schools produce the most neurosurgery residents? An analysis of the 2014-2020 cohort. J Neurosurg 2022; 137:283-295. [PMID: 34826816 DOI: 10.3171/2021.7.jns211530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this study, the authors sought to determine which US medical schools have produced the most neurosurgery residents and to evaluate potential associations between recruitment and medical school characteristics. METHODS Demographic and bibliometric characteristics were collected for 1572 residents in US-based and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited neurosurgery programs over the 2014 to 2020 match period using publicly available websites. US medical school characteristics were collected, including class size, presence of a home neurosurgery program, number of clinical neurosurgery faculty, research funding, presence of a neurosurgery interest group, and a top 10 ranking via U.S. News & World Report or Doximity. Correlations and associations were then evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC), independent-samples t-test, and univariable or stepwise multivariable linear regression, as appropriate. RESULTS Vanderbilt University produced the most neurosurgery residents as a percentage of medical graduates at 3.799%. Case Western Reserve University produced the greatest absolute number of neurosurgery residents (n = 40). The following factors were shown to be associated with a higher mean percentage of graduates entering neurosurgery: number of clinical neurosurgery faculty (PCC 0.509, p < 0.001), presence of a neurosurgery interest group (1.022% ± 0.737% vs 0.351% ± 0.327%, p < 0.001) or home neurosurgery program (1.169% ± 0.766% vs 0.428% ± 0.327%, p < 0.001), allopathic compared with osteopathic school (0.976% ± 0.719% vs 0.232% ± 0.272%, p < 0.001), U.S. News top 10 ranking for neurology and neurosurgery (1.923% ± 0.924% vs 0.757% ± 0.607%, p < 0.001), Doximity top 10 residency program ranking (1.715% ± 0.803% vs 0.814% ± 0.688%, p < 0.001), and amount of NIH funding (PCC 0.528, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study have delineated which medical schools produced the most neurosurgery residents currently in training, and the most important independent factors predicting the percentage of graduates entering neurosurgery and the preresidency h-index.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Antar
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and
| | - James Feghali
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and
| | - Elizabeth E Wicks
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and
| | - Shahab Aldin Sattari
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and
| | - Sean Li
- 2Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Timothy F Witham
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and
| | - Henry Brem
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and
| | - Judy Huang
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; and
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Shlobin NA, Radwanski RE, Kortz MW, Rasouli JJ, Gibbs WN, Than KD, Baaj AA, Shin JH, Dahdaleh NS. Utility of Virtual Spine Neurosurgery Education for Medical Students. World Neurosurg 2022; 163:179-186. [PMID: 35729819 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.07.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Distance learning has become increasingly important to expand access to neurosurgical spine education. However, emerging online spine education initiatives have largely focused on residents, fellows, and surgeons in practice. We aimed to assess the utility of online neurosurgical spine education for medical students regarding career interests, knowledge, and technical skills. METHODS A survey assessing the demographics and effects of virtual spine education programming on the interests, knowledge, and technical skills was sent to attendees of several virtual spine lectures. The ratings were quantified using 7-point Likert scales. RESULTS A total of 36 responses were obtained, of which 15 (41.7%) were from first- or second-year medical students and 18 (50.0%) were from international students. Most respondents were interested in neurosurgery (n = 30; 80.3%), with smaller numbers interested in radiology (n = 3; 8.3%) and orthopedic surgery (n = 2; 5.6%). The rating of utility ranged from 5.69 ± 1.14 to 6.50 ± 0.81 for career, 5.83 ± 0.94 to 6.14 ± 0.80 for knowledge, and 5.22 ± 1.31 to 5.83 ± 1.06 for clinical skills. Of the 36 respondents, 26 (72.2%) preferred virtual neurosurgical spine education via intermixed lectures and interactive sessions. The most common themes regarding the utility of virtual spine education were radiology by 18 (50.0%), anatomy by 12 (33.3%), and case-based teaching by 8 (22.2%) respondents. CONCLUSIONS Virtual distance learning for neurosurgical spine education is beneficial for students by enabling career exploration and learning content and clinical skills. Although the overall benefit was lowest for clinical skills, virtual programming could serve as an adjunct to traditional in-person exposure. Distance learning could also provide an avenue to reduce disparities in medical student neurosurgical spine education locally and globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Shlobin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA.
| | - Ryan E Radwanski
- Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael W Kortz
- Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Wende N Gibbs
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Khoi D Than
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Hospital, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ali A Baaj
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Arizona, Banner University Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - John H Shin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nader S Dahdaleh
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Snyder MH, Reddy VP, Iyer AM, Ganju A, Selden NR, Johnson JN, Wolfe SQ. Applying to residency: survey of neurosurgical residency applicants on virtual recruitment during COVID-19. J Neurosurg 2022; 137:273-282. [PMID: 34826806 DOI: 10.3171/2021.8.jns211600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant disruption to residency recruitment, including a sudden, comprehensive transition to virtual interviews. The authors sought to characterize applicant experiences and perceptions concerning the change in the application, interview, and match process for neurological surgery residency during the 2020-2021 recruitment cycle. METHODS A national survey of neurosurgical residency applicants from the 2020-2021 application cycle was performed. This survey was developed in cooperation with the Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS) and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Young Neurosurgeons Committee (YNC) and sent to all applicants (n = 280) who included academic video submissions to the SNS repository as part of their application package. These 280 applicants accounted for 69.6% of the total 402 neurosurgical applicants this year. RESULTS Nearly half of the applicants responded to the survey (44.3%, 124 of 280). Applicants favored additional reform of the interview scheduling process, including a centralized scheduling method, a set of standardized release dates for interview invitations, and interview caps for applicants. Less than 8% of students desired a virtual-only platform in the future, though the majority of applicants supported incorporating virtual interviews as part of the process to contain applicant costs and combining them with traditional in-person interview opportunities. Program culture and fit, as well as clinical and research opportunities in subspecialty areas, were the most important factors applicants used to rank programs. However, subjective program "fit" was deemed challenging to assess during virtual-only interviews. CONCLUSIONS Neurosurgery resident applicants identified standardized interview invitation release dates, centralized interview scheduling methods, caps on the number of interviews available to each candidate, and regulated opportunities for both virtual and in-person recruitment as measures that could significantly improve the applicant experience during and effectiveness of future neurosurgery residency application cycles. Applicants prioritized program culture and "fit" during recruitment, and a majority were open to incorporating virtual elements into future cycles to reduce costs while retaining in-person opportunities to gauge programs and their locations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Harrison Snyder
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Vamsi P Reddy
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Ankitha M Iyer
- 3Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Aruna Ganju
- 4Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Nathan R Selden
- 5Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jeremiah N Johnson
- 6Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; and
- 7Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Stacey Q Wolfe
- 3Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Ekhator C, Rak R. The Need for Improved Recruitment to Neurosurgery Training: A Systematic Review of Enrollment Strategies. Cureus 2022; 14:e26212. [PMID: 35891848 PMCID: PMC9307286 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.26212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurosurgery is one of the cornerstones corresponding to a large scope of clinical pathologies and is a highly-regarded surgical specialty. However, there has been a decline in recruits into the neurosurgical residency due to many factors derailing the interest of medical students with an ambition to become neurosurgeons. Some of these issues encompass little or lack of early exposure to neurosurgery, lack of quality mentorship programs, and institutional curriculum entailing prolonged periods of training and study in neurosurgery. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aim to establish some strategic methodologies for increasing the recruitment to neurological surgery. Neurosurgery is an interestingly exciting specialty that integrates cutting-edge technology allowing for diversified subspecialization with an exceptional degree of variety. Nevertheless, several factors such as the duration of the required training, the kind of lifestyle, lack of early exposure to neurosurgery, and lack of mentors to a vast of medical students across the globe have curtailed the recruitment to neurological surgery. Despite an increased number of female representations in medical surgery, there has been a reported increase in students matching into neurosurgery, although the number is relatively below the expectation due to the factors highlighted earlier. As a result, many studies and surveys have been conducted to identify ways of improving neurosurgical recruitment. Five electronic databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Google Scholar, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library, were searched to provide pertinent information to the topic of study in strict compliance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis) guidelines. Meta-analysis was then conducted on the included studies to determine their correlations based on the individual outcomes of each study. A total of 2,134 search results were obtained, screened, and reviewed against the exclusion and inclusion criteria to remain with 12 included studies detailing improving the recruitment to neurosurgical residency. The 12 studies were retrieved for their study characteristics based on the PICO (predetermined patient, intervention, control, and outcome) standards. Most of the studies were surveys (n = 8), retrospective and prospective studies (n = 2), and pilot and multifocal studies making up for the rest (n = 2). Several neurosurgery aspects need consideration to improve the recruitment of medical students to neurosurgical fields. Medical institutions, specialists, and other stakeholders should consider reconstructing the neurosurgical curriculum to ease the prolonged study time as well as to create and encourage structural programs aimed at acquainting medical students in neurosurgery and involving the students in conducting other research projects. In addition, mentorship programs and early exposure of medical students to neurological surgery play a key role in influencing the medical students' interest in choosing neurosurgical career paths.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuyem Ekhator
- Neuro-oncology, New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, USA
| | - Ramin Rak
- Neurosurgery, Rockville Center, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Solomou G, Venkatesh A, Patel W, Chari A, Mohan M, Bandyopadhyay S, Gillespie CS, Mendoza N, Watts C, Jenkins A. A career in neurosurgery: perceptions and the impact of a national SBNS/NANSIG neurosurgery careers day. Br J Neurosurg 2022; 36:620-626. [PMID: 35603975 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2022.2076807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Entrance to neurosurgical training is highly competitive. Without proper advice, information and opportunities, talented individuals may be dissuaded from applying. The Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group (NANSIG) organises a Careers Day in Neurosurgery every year. Our objective was to assess the overall utility of a neurosurgery careers day and the perceived factors that attract and detract from the specialty, from attendees of the ninth annual neurosurgery careers day. METHODS Eighteen-item pre-conference and 19-item post-conference questionnaires were disseminated electronically to conference attendees. Questions aimed to capture: (i) baseline demographics; (ii) previous experience and exposure in neurosurgery; (iii) interest in neurosurgery; (iv) understanding training and a career in neurosurgery; (v) perceived factors of attraction and dissuasion of neurosurgery; and (vi) perceived value, quality and educational purpose of the conference. RESULTS In total, 77 delegates attended the careers day. Most did not have a formal neurosurgical rotation during medical school (24.7%, n = 19), but almost half had gained neurosurgical experience and presented research work. The careers day increased knowledge of the neurosurgical application process (median Likert score 3/5 to 4/5, p < 0.01), duration of training (72.7-88.3%), and desire to pursue a career in neurosurgery (75.3-81.8%). The most commonly reported factors attracting delegates to neurosurgery were interest in neuroanatomy (80.5%, n = 62), practical skills (64.9%, n = 50), and impact on patients (62.3%, n = 48). The most common dissuasive factors were competition to entry (64.9%, n = 50), long working hours (40.3%, n = 31), and other career interests (35.1%, n = 27). Almost all would recommend the event to a colleague (94.9%, n = 73). CONCLUSIONS Formal undergraduate exposure to neurosurgery is limited. Neurosurgery careers days increase awareness and understanding of the application process and improve interest in a selected cohort. The factors attracting applicants to neurosurgery remain practical links to neuroanatomy, opportunities in neurosurgery for innovation and research, and direct impact on patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Solomou
- Institute of Cancer and Genome Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ashwin Venkatesh
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Waqqas Patel
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Aswin Chari
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
| | - Midhun Mohan
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Soham Bandyopadhyay
- Oxford University Global Surgery Group, Medical Sciences Division, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Conor S Gillespie
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Nigel Mendoza
- West London Neurosciences Unit, Charing Cross Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Colin Watts
- Institute of Cancer and Genome Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alistair Jenkins
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Antar A, Feghali J, Yang W, Wicks EE, Sattari SA, Li S, Witham TF, Brem H, Huang J. Home Program Matching in Neurosurgical Residency Programs: A 7-Year Study. World Neurosurg 2022; 164:e772-e783. [PMID: 35595044 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine home program matching percentage (staying in a program affiliated with one's medical school) for each neurosurgical residency program in the United States. Secondarily, to elucidate both program-level and resident characteristics associated with home program matching. METHODS Demographic and bibliometric characteristics were collected for 1572 residents in US-based and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited neurosurgery programs over the 2014 to 2020 match period using publicly available websites. Program characteristics were collected, including number of clinical faculty, top 20 Doximity research ranking, top 10 Doximity reputation ranking, top 10 U.S. News department ranking, affiliation with a U.S. News top 10 medical school, and geographic region. Programs were ranked according to home program matching percentage and associations were statistically evaluated. RESULTS The average home program matching percentage per residency was 18.6%. New York Presbyterian/Columbia retained the largest percentage of its own medical students with a home program matching percentage of 57.14%. From the resident frame of reference, only a higher preresidency H-index (3.7 ± 4.0 vs. 3.2 ± 3.7, p=0.033) was significantly associated with home program matching. From a program perspective, program size (standardized β=0.234, p=0.006), Doximity research (standardized β=0.206, p=0.031), Doximity reputation (standardized β=0.196, p=0.040), and U.S. News program rankings (standardized β=0.200, p=0.036) were all significantly associated with home program matching. Overall home program matching percentage remained relatively constant over the 2014-2020 time period. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study delineate home program matching patterns on a program-by-program level for U.S. neurosurgical residency programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Antar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - James Feghali
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Wuyang Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Wicks
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shahab Aldin Sattari
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sean Li
- Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Timothy F Witham
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Henry Brem
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Judy Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Gender Differences in Perceptions and Attitudes of Medical Students Towards Neurosurgery: A German Nationwide Survey. World Neurosurg 2022; 163:96-103.e2. [PMID: 35381382 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.03.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite advances in gender equity, the paucity of women neurosurgeons remains. In Germany, women accounted for only 24% of the specialists who completed their neurosurgical training in 2019. We sought to explore the perceptions of medical students in Germany towards a neurosurgical career, focusing on gender-specific differences. METHODS A digital 26-item questionnaire with a Likert 4-point scale and open-ended questions was distributed to the German Medical School student bodies. Data was analyzed to determine statistically significant intra-group variability between women and men. RESULTS 210 medical students participated in the survey. Women and men were equally interested in brain pathologies (38% vs. 47%, strongly agreed), whereas interest in neurosurgery was significantly greater in men (12% vs. 26%, strongly agreed). Men were less likely to believe that women neurosurgery residents would face inequality at work. They were also less likely to support a gender quota in neurosurgery. Yet, both women and men were convinced that a rise in the number of women would positively impact the field. No gender-dependency was seen in students' strive for success and prestige. Men felt discouraged from pursuing neurosurgery because they feared an unpleasant work environment whereas women were concerned about neurosurgery not being family-friendly. Regardless of gender, the greatest factor deterring students from neurosurgery was poor work-life balance. CONCLUSION Awareness must be raised concerning gender inequity and discrimination in our specialty. A multifaceted approach is imperative to develop neurosurgery into a profession where gender no longer hinders access to training and success in the field.
Collapse
|
22
|
Ooi SZY, Dada OE, Bukenya GW, Kenfack YJ, Le C, Ohonba E, Adeyemo E, Narain K, Awad AK, Barrie U, Sichimba D, Ogunfolaji O, Kitonga LM, Oriaku AJ, Bamimore MA, Okor DE, Rominiyi O. Evaluating the impact of neurosurgical rotation experience in Africa on the interest and perception of medical students towards a career in neurosurgery: a protocol for a continental, cross-sectional study. JOURNAL OF SURGICAL PROTOCOLS AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES 2022; 2022:snac006. [PMID: 35480394 PMCID: PMC9027747 DOI: 10.1093/jsprm/snac006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Africa has the second highest neurosurgical workforce deficit globally. Despite the many recent advancements in increasing neurosurgical access in Africa, published reports have shown that the vast majority of undergraduate students have little or no exposure to neurosurgery. The lack of exposure may pose a challenge in reducing the neurosurgical workforce deficit, which is one of the long-term strategies of tackling the unmet burden of disease. Students may also miss the opportunity to appreciate the specialty and its demands as well as nurture their interest in the field. This study aims to assess the impact of a neurosurgical rotation during medical school in shaping the perception and interest of students towards a career in neurosurgery.
Methods
The cross-sectional study will be conducted through the dissemination of a self-administered e-survey hosted on Google Forms from 21st February 2021 to 20th March 2021. The survey will contain five-point Likert scale, multiple-choice and free-text questions. The structured questionnaire will have four sections with 27 items: (i) socio-demographic background, (ii) neurosurgical experience, (iii) perception towards a neurosurgical career and (iv) interest in a neurosurgical career. All consenting medical students in African medical schools who are in their clinical years (defined as fourth to sixth years or higher years of study) will be eligible. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Welch t-test and adjusted logistic regression models will be used to test for associations between independent and dependent variables. Statistical significance will be accepted at P < 0.05.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yves Jordan Kenfack
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, TX, USA
| | - Chi Le
- School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee, USA
| | - Efosa Ohonba
- Department of Health, North West Province, Mahikeng, South Africa
| | - Emmanuel Adeyemo
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, TX, USA
| | - Kapil Narain
- Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Berea, South Africa
| | | | - Umaru Barrie
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, TX, USA
| | - Dawin Sichimba
- Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia
| | | | - Lilian Mwende Kitonga
- College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | | | - Ola Rominiyi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Dada OE, Ooi SZY, Bukenya GW, Kenfack YJ, Le C, Ohonba E, Adeyemo E, Narain K, Awad AK, Barrie U, Sichimba D, Ogunfolaji O, Kitonga LM, Oriaku AJ, Bamimore MA, Okor DE, Rominiyi O. Evaluating the Impact of Neurosurgical Rotation Experience in Africa on the Interest and Perception of Medical Students Towards a Career in Neurosurgery: A Continental, Multi-Centre, Cross-Sectional Study. Front Surg 2022; 9:766325. [PMID: 35223975 PMCID: PMC8866575 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.766325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Africa has the second highest neurosurgical workforce deficit globally and many medical students in Africa lack exposure to the field. This study aims to assess the impact of a neurosurgical rotation during medical school in shaping the perception and interest of students toward a career in neurosurgery. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Methods A Google form e-survey was disseminated to African clinical medical students between February 21st and March 20th, 2021. Data on exposure and length of neurosurgical rotation and perception of, and interest in, neurosurgery were collected. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and adjusted logistic regression modeling. Results Data was received from 539 students in 30 African countries (30/54, 55.6%). The majority of participants were male and were from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Most students had undertaken a formal neurosurgery rotation, of which the majority reported a rotation length of 4 weeks or less. Students who had more than 4 weeks of neurosurgical exposure were more likely to express a career interest in neurosurgery than those without [odds ratio (OR) = 1.75, p < 0.04] and men were more likely to express interest in a neurosurgical career compared to women (OR = 3.22, p < 0.001), after adjusting for other factors. Conclusion Neurosurgical exposure is a key determinant in shaping the perception and interest of medical students toward a career in neurosurgery. Our findings support the need: i) for a continent-wide, standardized curriculum guide to neurosurgical rotations and ii) to advocate for gender inclusivity in education and policy-making efforts across the African continent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olaoluwa Ezekiel Dada
- College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- *Correspondence: Olaoluwa Ezekiel Dada
| | | | | | | | - Chi Le
- Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Efosa Ohonba
- Department of Neurosurgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Emmanuel Adeyemo
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Kapil Narain
- Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Ahmed K. Awad
- Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Umaru Barrie
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Dawin Sichimba
- Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia
| | | | - Lilian Mwende Kitonga
- College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Michael A. Bamimore
- School of Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Ola Rominiyi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
A National Survey Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students Pursuing Careers in Neurosurgery. NEUROSCI 2021; 2:320-333. [PMID: 36091326 PMCID: PMC9457230 DOI: 10.3390/neurosci2040023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted medical education and the residency application process. Methods: We conducted a descriptive observational study in April 2020 of medical students and foreign medical graduates considering or pursuing careers in neurosurgery in the United States to examine the impact of the pandemic. Results: A total of 379 respondents from 67 medical schools completed the survey. Across all participants, 92% (n = 347) stopped in-person didactic education, and 43% (n = 161) experienced basic science and 44% (n = 167) clinical research delays. Sixty percent (n = 227) cited a negative impact on academic productivity. Among first year students, 18% (n = 17) were less likely to pursue a career in neurosurgery. Over half of second year and third year students were likely to delay taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination Steps I and II. Among third year students, 77% (n = 91) reported indefinite postponement of sub-internships, and 43% (n = 53) were unsatisfied with communication from external programs. Many fourth-year students (50%, n = 17) were graduating early to participate in COVID-19-related patient care. Top student-requested support activities included access to student-focused educational webinars and sessions at upcoming conferences. Conclusions: Medical students pursuing careers in neurosurgery faced unique academic, career, and personal challenges secondary to the pandemic. These challenges may become opportunities for new initiatives guided by professional organizations and residency programs.
Collapse
|
25
|
Myers SE, Bender NR, Seidel MA, Weinstock RS. Diabetes SPECIAL (Students Providing Education on Chronic Illness and Lifestyle): a novel preclinical medical student elective. PERSPECTIVES ON MEDICAL EDUCATION 2021; 10:312-315. [PMID: 33349906 PMCID: PMC8505564 DOI: 10.1007/s40037-020-00641-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional medical student curricula limit substantial clinical experiences until the third and fourth years of medical school. This delay in valuable experiences hinders the ability of some medical students to choose a specialty to pursue, delays the formation of meaningful longitudinal mentorship relationships, and limits the development of important clinical acumen. Furthermore, the use of medical students in preclinical years may help to improve patient care and outcomes. APPROACH The novel preclinical Diabetes SPECIAL (Students Providing Education on Chronic Illness and Lifestyle) elective was designed to introduce first year medical students to the field of endocrinology, promote the development of a professional identity, improve medical student communication skills, and raise awareness of the complexities of managing patients living with diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, and novel to this experience, was to measure the impact of this elective on patient outcomes. EVALUATION Students attended patient appointments, communicated with their assigned patients regularly, relayed important health information to the attending endocrinologist, and attended monthly didactic sessions. The elective outcomes were evaluated via completed surveys by patients, students, and attending physicians as well as medical record review for pre- and post-elective hemoglobin A1C levels. REFLECTION Students, faculty, and patients who participated in this elective generally reported having a positive experience. Seven out of 10 patients had a reduction in their hemoglobin A1C levels. The outcomes from the pilot of this novel preclinical elective support the importance of early clinical exposure in medical student training and highlight potential positive impacts on both medical student education and patient outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Myers
- Department of Medicine: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
| | - Nicholas R Bender
- Department of Medicine: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Marina A Seidel
- Department of Medicine: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Ruth S Weinstock
- Department of Medicine: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Al Lawati M, Al-Saadi T. Letter to the Editor: The Trend of "Neurosurgery Interested" Among Omani Medical Students and Interns Despite the Absence of a Neurosurgery Residency Program: Does This Indicate It's Time to Change? World Neurosurg 2021; 154:187-189. [PMID: 34583483 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.07.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Meetham Al Lawati
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Tariq Al-Saadi
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute- McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Neurosurgery, Khoula Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Coe TM, Chirban AM, McBroom TJ, Cloonan DJ, Brownlee SA, Moses J, Yeh H, Petrusa E, Saillant N, Dageforde LA. Virtual student-transplant patient interactions empower patients and enhance student transplantation knowledge. Am J Surg 2021; 222:1120-1125. [PMID: 34635311 PMCID: PMC10072134 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is variation in exposure to transplantation in undergraduate medical education. We created a program pairing medical students with transplant patients for semi-structured, virtual encounters and studied the impact on both students and patients using qualitative content analysis. METHODS Fifty medical students were paired with transplant recipients and donors for non-medical virtual encounters. Separate focus groups were conducted, deidentified, and analyzed using a constant comparative method. RESULTS Three themes related to the student experience emerged: transplant-related relationships, a deeper understanding of the patient's journey to transplant, and alterations of their personal view of organ donation and transplantation. Three themes emerged from the patient's experiences: the benefits of conversations, the patient as a teacher, and spreading the message of organ donation and transplantation. CONCLUSIONS This novel program demonstrates that virtual student-patient interactions are a useful approach to engage patients and a unique way to teach medical students about transplantation and donation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor M Coe
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ariana M Chirban
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Daniel J Cloonan
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah A Brownlee
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joy Moses
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heidi Yeh
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emil Petrusa
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Noelle Saillant
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Leigh Anne Dageforde
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Shlobin NA, Levy EI. Engaging Medical Students in Neurointervention: Rationale and Recruitment. World Neurosurg 2021; 154:80-82. [PMID: 34332150 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.07.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Shlobin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Elad I Levy
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Radiology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Department of Neurosurgery, Gates Vascular Institute at Kaleida Health, Canon Stroke and Vascular Research Center, University at Buffalo, Jacobs Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Attracting the Best Students to a Surgical Career. Surg Clin North Am 2021; 101:653-665. [PMID: 34242607 DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The predicted shortage of surgeons in the future workforce is already occurring in rural areas and is expected to worsen. US allopathic medical school graduates have been losing interest in surgery for the past 40 years. The residency match remains unaffected because of foreign and osteopathic applicants. Negative myths regarding surgeon training, lifestyle, and personality persist among medical students, proving to be a powerful deterrent to students who might consider a surgical career. Proven strategies for making surgery more attractive to students are not always used and can be as simple as getting early exposure to students before clinical rotations.
Collapse
|
30
|
Martini ML, Yaeger KA, Kellner CP, Hadjipanayis C, Shrivastava R, Mocco J, Morgenstern PF. Student Survey Results of a Virtual Medical Student Course Developed as a Platform for Neurosurgical Education During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. World Neurosurg 2021; 152:e250-e265. [PMID: 34058356 PMCID: PMC8412498 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.05.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, medical students training in neurosurgery relied on external subinternships at institutions nationwide for immersive educational experiences and to increase their odds of matching. However, external rotations for the 2020–2021 cycle were suspended given concerns of spreading COVID-19. Our objective was to provide foundational neurosurgical knowledge expected of interns, bootcamp-style instruction in basic procedures, and preinterview networking opportunities for students in an accessible, virtual format. Methods The virtual neurosurgery course consisted of 16 biweekly 1-hour seminars over a 2-month period. Participants completed comprehensive precourse and postcourse surveys assessing their backgrounds, confidence in diverse neurosurgical concepts, and opinions of the qualities of the seminars. Responses from students completing both precourse and postcourse surveys were included. Results An average of 82 students participated live in each weekly lecture (range, 41–150). Thirty-two participants completed both surveys. On a 1–10 scale self-assessing baseline confidence in neurosurgical concepts, participants were most confident in neuroendocrinology (6.79 ± 0.31) and least confident in spine oncology (4.24 ± 0.44), with an average of 5.05 ± 0.32 across all topics. Quality ratings for all seminars were favorable. The mean postcourse confidence was 7.79 ± 0.19, representing an improvement of 3.13 ± 0.38 (P < 0.0001). Conclusions Feedback on seminar quality and improvements in confidence in neurosurgical topics suggest that an interactive virtual course may be an effective means of improving students' foundational neurosurgical knowledge and providing networking opportunities before application cycles. Comparison with in-person rotations when these are reestablished may help define roles for these tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Martini
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kurt A Yaeger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christopher P Kellner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Raj Shrivastava
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - J Mocco
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Peter F Morgenstern
- Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Manalo TA, Higgins MI, Pettitt-Schieber B, Pettitt BJ, Mehta A, Hartsell LM. A Strategy for Undergraduate Medical Education in Urology During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JOURNAL OF SURGICAL EDUCATION 2021; 78:746-750. [PMID: 33246891 PMCID: PMC7490000 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide a framework for a virtual curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic for medical student educators that introduces and teaches clinical concepts important in urology and surgical specialties in general. METHODS We created a 1-week virtual urology course utilizing interactive lectures, case-based exercises, and faculty-proctored surgical video reviews. Students were assigned self-study modules and participated in case-based discussions and presentations on a topic of their choice. Students' perceptions of urology as a specialty and the utility of the course was evaluated through pre- and postcourse surveys. Understanding of urologic content was evaluated with a multiple-choice exam. RESULTS A total of nine students were enrolled in the course. All students reported increased understanding of the common urologic diagnoses and of urology as a specialty by an average of 2.5 points on a 10-point Likert scale (Cohen's measure of effect size: 3.2). Additionally, 56% of students reported increased interest, 22% reported no change and 22% reported a decreased interest in pursuing urology as a specialty following the course. Students self-reported increased knowledge of a variety of urologic topics on a 10-point Likert scale. The average exam score on the multiple-choice exam improved from 50% before the course to 89% after the course. CONCLUSIONS Various teaching techniques can be employed through a virtual platform to introduce medical students to the specialty of urology and increase clinical knowledge surrounding common urologic conditions. As the longevity of the COVID-19 pandemic becomes increasingly apparent and virtual teaching is normalized, these techniques can have far-reaching utility within the traditional medical student surgical curriculum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tad A Manalo
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Michelle I Higgins
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Barbara J Pettitt
- Department of General Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Akanksha Mehta
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lindsey M Hartsell
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
D'Amico RS, Immidisetti AV, Katz J, White T, Bedi A, Baum G, Ellis J, Levine M, Ortiz R, Boockvar JA, Langer DJ. Web-Based Education and Social Media Increase Access to Careers in Neurosurgery: The Lenox Hill Hospital BRAINterns Experience. World Neurosurg 2021; 150:e445-e465. [PMID: 33741545 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To replace educational opportunities lost during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital produced an open-access webinar series ("BRAINterns") that covered a broad range of health care topics with a focus on neurosurgery. METHODS This 8-week webinar series ran from July 1 to August 28, 2020. An optional exit survey was distributed to participants. Data were analyzed to characterize and better understand trends among a global cohort of participants. RESULTS A total of 16,484 people registered for BRAINterns, and 6675 took the survey (40.5% response rate). Responders represented 87 countries, of which the majority were from the United States and Canada (90.48%, n = 6039). Responders were primarily female (82.9%, n = 5521). Racial and ethnic representation was majority Asian (42%, n = 2798), followed by White (22.7%, n = 1514), Hispanic/Latino (16.2%, n = 1080), and Black and African American (7.7%, n = 516). Participants reported hearing about BRAINterns through various social media platforms (72.18%, n = 4818)-the most popular was TikTok (33.4%, n = 2232). Overall, 93.4% of participants reported that the course was a good use of their time during the pandemic, and 86.7% reported that the course helped replace lost opportunities. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that webinar-based education is an effective method of expanding access to careers in medicine and in particular, neurosurgery, to traditionally underrepresented populations. Social media can be a powerful tool to combat barriers to early exposure and vastly improve diversity within the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Randy S D'Amico
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Amanda V Immidisetti
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Joshua Katz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tim White
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anupama Bedi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, New York, New York, USA
| | - Griffin Baum
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jason Ellis
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mitchell Levine
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rafael Ortiz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, New York, New York, USA
| | - John A Boockvar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, New York, New York, USA
| | - David J Langer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Gabriel PJ, Alexander J, Kārkliņa A. Diversity in Neurosurgery: Trends in Gender and Racial/Ethnic Representation Among Applicants and Residents from U.S. Neurological Surgery Residency Programs. World Neurosurg 2021; 150:e305-e315. [PMID: 33684577 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.02.127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess trends in gender, racial, and ethnic diversity of applicant pools and subsequent resident cohorts in neurosurgical residency programs in the United States. METHODS Applicant and residency data from 2009 to 2018 were analyzed from the Electronic Residency Application Service, Journal of the American Medical Association, and National Resident Matching Program to evaluate trends in diversity. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between applicant sex from 2009 to 2013 compared with 2014 to 2018 (P > 0.05). From 2009 to 2018, the percentage of female residents saw a statistically significant increase from 12.9% to 17.5% but remained less reflective of women's representativeness in the United States (50.8%). The percentage of Black and Hispanic applicants decreased across the observed period (4% and 1%, respectively). While Black people represented 5.2% of the resident pool in 2009, this decreased to 4.95% by 2018. Hispanic residents saw a <2% net increase (5.5% to 7.2%) in resident representation but still fell behind when compared with census statistics. The application pool did not see a significant change in the percentage of White and Asian applicants; however, the percentage of residents did decrease slightly over the observed decade. CONCLUSIONS Current efforts to improve racial and ethnic diversity have not been sufficient in generating parity in the recruitment and retention of racially underrepresented groups in neurosurgery. Although the presence of women in applicant and resident pools has increased, not much is known about the impact on women who also identify within racially underrepresented groups. More proactive measures for recruitment and retention are needed to reach equity in the future neurosurgical workforce.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anastasia Kārkliņa
- Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Department of African and African-American Studies, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Thum DiCesare JA, Segar DJ, Donoho D, Radwanski R, Zada G, Yang I. Democratizing Access to Neurosurgical Medical Education: National Efforts in a Medical Student Training Camp During Coronavirus Disease 2019. World Neurosurg 2020; 144:e237-e243. [PMID: 32827739 PMCID: PMC7438385 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.08.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND National medical student surveys amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-driven subinternship cancellations have demonstrated the need for supplemental, standardized subspecialty medical education, mentorship, and career planning nationally. We have presented the first live, cross-institutional virtual medical student subspecialty training camp to deliver standardized neurosurgical educational content to medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its results on medical student anxiety and perceptions of neurosurgery. METHODS The online training camp used a video conferencing platform that was open to all medical students. A post-training camp survey was administered. RESULTS A total of 305 medical students registered for the event from 107 unique U.S. medical schools. Of the 305 medical students, 108 reported intending to apply to neurosurgery residency in 2021. The top medical student objectives for the training camp were program networking and mentorship. Of the 305 participants, 121 (39.7%) completed the post-training survey. Of the respondents, 65.0% reported improved neurosurgical knowledge, 79.8% reported decreased anxiety about subinternships and interviews, 82.5% reported increased enthusiasm about neurosurgery, and 100% desired a future annual virtual training camp because of the increased accessibility and decreased cost. This was especially important for students at institutions without home subspecialty programs and those with financial burdens. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19-driven innovations in medical education have accelerated changes that may have long been necessary. This virtual structure improved resource usage and scalability compared with in-person training, maintained social distancing, and democratized access to standardized, specialized content not often available through traditional medical curricula. Even as a supplement to in-person events, the virtual training camp model could be implemented by national medical societies, which might significantly increase medical students' preparedness for, and education in, neurosurgery and other subspecialties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine A Thum DiCesare
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| | - David J Segar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel Donoho
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ryan Radwanski
- Department of Neurosurgery, New York Presbyterian, Cornell, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gabriel Zada
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Isaac Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Bandyopadhyay S, Moudgil-Joshi J, Norton EJ, Haq M, Saunders KEA. Motivations, barriers, and social media: a qualitative study of uptake of women into neurosurgery. Br J Neurosurg 2020; 36:19-25. [PMID: 33215936 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2020.1849555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore how social media could be utilised to influence an individual's motivation to pursue a neurosurgical career, an emerging topic area. The focus of this study was on women interested in neurosurgery. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Women are significantly under-represented in neurosurgery. 18% of all neurosurgeons - including 8% of consultants - are women. Most previous studies have used quantitative methods that are not best suited to gaining an in-depth understanding of the barriers that women face in pursuing a career in neurosurgery, or what would enable more women to go into the speciality. METHODS In this qualitative study, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Participants were women pre-neurosurgical trainees. The interview data was examined through a thematic analysis involving open and axial coding. RESULTS Thirty women participated in the study. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) mentorship, (2) testimony from other women doing neurosurgery, (3) social media as a means of increasing interest in neurosurgery as a career choice, and (4) real-life exposure to the speciality. CONCLUSION There is scope to further improve uptake of women into neurosurgical training in the UK. Motivations and barriers to women pursuing neurosurgery should be addressed openly through early experience, role models and mentorship. Social media can help facilitate these opportunities, disseminate information and inspiration, and has the potential to undo societal biases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soham Bandyopadhyay
- Oxford University Global Surgery Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Emma Jane Norton
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Bury St Edmunds, UK.,Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Makinah Haq
- GKT School of Medical Education, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Kate E A Saunders
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
De La Peña NM, Richter KR, Haglin JM, Pollock JR, Richter RA, Kouloumberis PE. Differences by Practice Year in Numbers of U.S. Female Neurosurgeons. World Neurosurg 2020; 145:363-367. [PMID: 33068801 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the proportion and number of female neurosurgeons in the workforce at different stages of practice. METHODS The Physician Compare National Downloadable File data set was obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for physicians who indicated "neurosurgery" as their primary specialty. Physician duplicates, physicians with no listed medical school graduation year, and physicians expected to be in residency (graduation years 2013-2019) were removed, yielding 4956 neurosurgeons. Five-year intervals were used to measure the number of male and female neurosurgeons by different stages of their careers. For example, graduates from years 2008-2012 were expected to be in their first 1-5 years of practice. RESULTS There were 405 female (8.2%) and 4551 male (91.8%) neurosurgeons. At 1-5 years of practice, 13.8% (105/760) were women; 6-10 years, 11.5% (94/820) women; 11-15 years, 8.9% (64/720) women; 16-20 years, 8.7% (59/682) women; 21-25 years, 7.4% (46/619) women; 26-30 years, 3.8% (20/520) women; 31-35 years, 3.6% (15/413) women; and 36 years or more, 0.5% women (2/422). The number of female neurosurgeons varied among states, ranging from 0 in Hawaii to 53 in California. The states with the lowest percentage of female neurosurgeons were Hawaii (0%), Oklahoma (3.1%), and Nevada (3.6%). The states with the highest percentage of female neurosurgeons were New Hampshire (20.0%), Vermont (16.7%), and Rhode Island (15.8%). CONCLUSIONS The number of practicing female neurosurgeons within the United States is increasing, as shown by the growing percentage of women who are earlier in their surgical careers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kent R Richter
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Jack M Haglin
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
DeVaro SN, Uner OE, Khalifa YM, Graubart EB. Ophthalmology Education in COVID-19: A Remote Elective for Medical Students. JOURNAL OF ACADEMIC OPHTHALMOLOGY 2020; 12:e165-e170. [PMID: 33521507 PMCID: PMC7842313 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created obstacles for medical student education, as clinical rotations were temporarily halted. Recent literature shows online electives may provide an alternative learning platform. We developed a tele-ophthalmology student elective for rising third-year (MS3) and fourth-year (MS4) medical students to continue teaching and exposure to the field. Methods A 4-week remote elective was approved by Emory University School of Medicine and offered between April 18, 2020 to May 15, 2020 for rising MS3 and MS4 students. The curriculum consisted of online self-study materials, student presentations, chart review assignments, case-based discussions with faculty, and telehealth experiences. All students were surveyed and tested with questions from USMLE World (UWorld) test bank at the end of the course. Results A total of 18 students enrolled, with 66.7% MS3 and 33.3% MS4 participance. The mean rating of fulfillment of course learning objectives was 8.1/10 (range, 6.7-8.8), with mean ratings of 8.2 for MS3s and 7.7 for MS4s. There was a significant increase in self-reported knowledge in ophthalmology, with an increase from 4.6 to 8.1 for MS3s (p=0.002) and 6.7 to 8.0 for MS4s (p=0.04). Students also reported higher interest in the field, with an increase from 4.9 to 7.8 for MS3s (p=0.01) and 7.5 to 8.7 for MS4s (p=0.1). The students performed significantly higher on the post-course test (94.8%) than UWorld question bank users (74.1%) (p<0.001). Conclusion Our novel ophthalmology elective significantly enhanced self-reported medical student knowledge and interest in the field during a crisis that required transition to remote learning. Further study of student telehealth experience and objective assessment is needed to improve online learning in ophthalmology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ogul E Uner
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Yousuf M Khalifa
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Emily B Graubart
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Ganesh Kumar N, Makhoul AT, Pontell ME, Drolet BC. Characterizing the Effect of Pass/Fail U.S. Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Scoring in Neurosurgery: Program Directors’ Perspectives. World Neurosurg 2020; 142:e440-e444. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.07.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
39
|
Stumpo V, Latour K, Traylor JI, Staartjes VE, Giordano M, Caccavella VM, Olivi A, Ricciardi L, Signorelli F. Medical Student Interest and Recruitment in Neurosurgery. World Neurosurg 2020; 141:448-454.e6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.04.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
40
|
Solomou G, Murphy S, Bandyopadhyay S, Horsfall HL, Mohan M, Chari A, Sinha S, Mendoza N. Neurosurgery specialty training in the UK: What you need to know to be shortlisted for an interview. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2020; 57:287-290. [PMID: 32874557 PMCID: PMC7452085 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2020.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurosurgery is one of the most competitive specialties in the UK. In 2019, securing an ST1 post in neurosurgery corresponds to competition ration of 6.54 whereas a CST1 post 2.93. Further, at ST3 level, neurosurgery is the most competitive. In addition, the number of neurosurgical training posts are likely to be reduced in the coming years. A number of very specific shortlisting criteria, aiming to filter and select the best candidates for interview exist. In the context of the high competition ratios and the specific shortlisting criteria, developing an interest in the neurosciences early on will allow individuals more time to meet the necessary standards for neurosurgery. Here, we aim to outline the shortlisting criteria and offer advice on how to achieve maximum scores, increasing the likelihood to be shortlisted for an interview. Neurosurgery is one of the most competitive specialities in the UK. At ST3 level neurosurgery is the most competitive surgical speciality in the UK. Leadership and management skills are desirable skills in the NHS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Suzanne Murphy
- Keele University Medical School, Stoke on Trent, UK.,UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, Ireland
| | | | - Hugo Layard Horsfall
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Addenbrooke's Hospital and University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Midhun Mohan
- Academic Division of Neurosurgery, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Aswin Chari
- Department of Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK
| | - Saurabh Sinha
- Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Nigel Mendoza
- West London Neurosciences Unit, Charing Cross Hospital NHS Trust, UK
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Zaed I. COVID-19 consequences on medical students interested in neurosurgery: an Italian perspective. Br J Neurosurg 2020; 36:119-120. [PMID: 32628052 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2020.1777260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Zaed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, MI, Italy.,Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pieve Emanuele (Milano), Italy
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Dawoud RA, Philbrick B, McMahon JT, Douglas JM, Bhatia N, Faraj R, Greven A, Buster B, Rindler RS, Laxpati NG, Gary MF. Letter to the Editor "Virtual Neurosurgery Clerkship for Medical Students". World Neurosurg 2020; 139:456-459. [PMID: 32426074 PMCID: PMC7233241 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.05.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Reem A Dawoud
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | | | | | | | - Neil Bhatia
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Razan Faraj
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Alex Greven
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Bryan Buster
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Rima S Rindler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Nealen G Laxpati
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Matthew F Gary
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Impact of American Association of Neurological Surgeons Medical Student Interest Groups on Participation in Organized Neurosurgery, Research Productivity, and Residency Match Success. World Neurosurg 2020; 138:e437-e444. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.02.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
44
|
Guadix SW, Winston GM, Chae JK, Haghdel A, Chen J, Younus I, Radwanski R, Greenfield JP, Pannullo SC. Medical Student Concerns Relating to Neurosurgery Education During COVID-19. World Neurosurg 2020; 139:e836-e847. [PMID: 32426066 PMCID: PMC7229732 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.05.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created significant obstacles within medical education. For medical students interested in pursuing neurosurgery as a specialty, the educational policies surrounding COVID-19 have resulted in unique challenges. The present study used a nationwide survey to identify the concerns of medical students interested in pursuing neurosurgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Students who had previously registered for medical student neurosurgery training camps were sent an online Qualtrics survey requesting them to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting their neurosurgical education. The Pearson χ2 test and post hoc pairwise Fisher exact test were used for analysis of categorical variables, and the 2-tailed paired Student t test was used for continuous variables. Results The survey was distributed to 852 medical students, with 127 analyzed responses. Concerns regarding conferences and networking opportunities (63%), clinical experience (59%), and board examination scores (42%) were most frequently cited. Of the third-year medical students, 76% reported ≥1 cancelled or postponed neurosurgery rotation. On average, students were more likely to take 1 year off from medical school after than before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, measured from 0 to 100 (25.3 ± 36.0 vs. 39.5 ± 37.5; P = 0.004). Virtual mentorship pairing was the highest rated educational intervention suggested by first- and second-year medical students. The third- and fourth-year medical students had cited virtual surgical skills workshops most frequently. Conclusions The results from the present nationwide survey have highlighted the concerns of medical students regarding their neurosurgery education during the COVID-19 pandemic. With these findings, neurosurgery organizations can consider targeted plans for students of each year to continue their education and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio W Guadix
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Graham M Winston
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - John K Chae
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Arsalan Haghdel
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Justin Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Iyan Younus
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ryan Radwanski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Greenfield
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Susan C Pannullo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Chae JK, Haghdel A, Guadix SW, Winston GM, Younus I, Radwanski R, Schwartz TH, Greenfield JP, Apuzzo MLJ, Pannullo SC. Letter: COVID-19 Impact on the Medical Student Path to Neurosurgery. Neurosurgery 2020; 87:E232-E233. [PMID: 32355961 PMCID: PMC7197528 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- John K Chae
- Department of Neurological Surgery Weill Cornell Medicine New York, New York
| | - Arsalan Haghdel
- Department of Neurological Surgery Weill Cornell Medicine New York, New York
| | - Sergio W Guadix
- Department of Neurological Surgery Weill Cornell Medicine New York, New York
| | - Graham M Winston
- Department of Neurological Surgery Weill Cornell Medicine New York, New York
| | - Iyan Younus
- Department of Neurological Surgery Weill Cornell Medicine New York, New York
| | - Ryan Radwanski
- Department of Neurological Surgery Weill Cornell Medicine New York, New York
| | - Theodore H Schwartz
- Department of Neurological Surgery Weill Cornell Medicine New York, New York
| | | | - Michael L J Apuzzo
- Department of Neurological Surgery Weill Cornell Medicine New York, New York
| | - Susan C Pannullo
- Department of Neurological Surgery Weill Cornell Medicine New York, New York
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Huq S, Khalafallah AM, Ishida W, Porras JL, Lee RP, Rincon-Torroella J, Wojtasiewicz T, Xu R, Cohen AR, Mukherjee D. Recruiting Medical Students to Neurosurgery Through a Focused Neuroanatomy Lab Initiative. World Neurosurg 2020; 137:e535-e546. [DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
47
|
Identifying the Geographic Profile of International Visitors to the United States for Neurosurgical Education: A Single Institution's Experience. World Neurosurg 2020; 139:e708-e715. [PMID: 32339740 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.04.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Departments of neurosurgery in the United States have had a long history of hosting international visitors for the advancement of their neurosurgical education. The goal of the present study was to determine the existence of a geographic profile of international visitors for education purposes, both students and graduates, to the United States through the anecdotal experience of 1 department to explore the reach and worth of hosting such opportunities. METHODS Administrative records were retrospectively reviewed for international visitors over the preceding 10 years, 2009-2019, were surveyed at 1 institution. Visitors were grouped as either medical students or graduates, visiting for clinical or research purposes. Geographic trends were compared using the Pearson chi-squared test. RESULTS We identified 128 visitors from 33 countries during the study period. The most common home countries were Italy (10%), China (9%), and India (7%). The cohort involved 62 (48%) students and 66 (52%) graduates, and 59 (46%) and 69 (54%) visited for clinical and research purposes, respectively. The geographic distribution of student versus graduate visitors was statistically significant by region (P < 0.01). However, the geographic distribution of clinical versus research visitors was not statistically different by region (P = 0.62). CONCLUSIONS There appears to be international appeal worldwide to participate in neurosurgical education in the United States. At our institution, every geographic region was represented in our most recent decade of experience. International visitor profiles appear to be associated with particular geographic patterns depending on their status as either a medical student or graduate.
Collapse
|
48
|
Guadix SW, Younus I, Winston G, ElJalby M, Xia J, Nario JJ, Rothbaum M, Radwanski RE, Greenfield JP, Pannullo SC. Medical Students' Perceived Interests and Concerns for a Career in Neurosurgery. World Neurosurg 2020; 139:e203-e211. [PMID: 32272266 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.03.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The factors that attract and concern medical students about a career in neurosurgery have never been clearly characterized or delineated in a large nationwide cohort of medical students intending to pursue a career in neurosurgery. The objective of the present study was to characterize the factors that influence medical student interest in neurosurgery and assess the effects of a formal neurosurgery training course on participants' perceptions of a career in neurosurgery. METHODS Before the Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Camp for subinternship preparation, registered students were surveyed about their interest level in neurosurgery, factors that attracted or concerned them about a career in neurosurgery, attendance at a national neurosurgery conference or course, formal clinical neurosurgery exposure in medical school, and whether they had a resident or attending mentor in neurosurgery. At the end of the course, all the participants completed the surveyed again. P < 0.05 was considered significant on Pearson's χ2 and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and 2-tailed paired Student's t tests for continuous variables. RESULTS Of the training camp attendees, >95% completed both pre- and postcourse surveys, including 41 first-year, 19 second-year, 30 third-year, and 5 fourth-year medical school students. The most common factors that concerned students about a career in neurosurgery were work-life balance (76%) and competitiveness (56%). All factors of concern were decreased in the postcourse survey, except for competitiveness. A small cohort (8.4%) of students had no concerns about a career in neurosurgery; this cohort had doubled to 17% after the course (P < 0.05). The students that indicated no concern had a greater postcourse interest level in neurosurgery (95.8 ± 8.7 vs. 86.7 ± 20.5; P < 0.05). Student reasons for an interest in neurosurgery included intellectually stimulating work (94%), interest in neurosciences (93%), effect on patients (84%), innovation and new technology (80%), research opportunities (77%), and prestige (24%). All reasons increased after the course, with the exception of prestige, which decreased to 22%. CONCLUSION A training camp for students pursuing a neurosurgery subinternship was effective in providing transparency and positively influencing the factors that attract and concern students about a career in neurosurgery. Characterization of medical student perceptions of neurosurgery from a large, nationwide cohort of students pursuing a subinternship has provided novel data and could help identify factors protecting against burnout later in life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio W Guadix
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Iyan Younus
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Graham Winston
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mahmoud ElJalby
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jimmy Xia
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joel Jose Nario
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael Rothbaum
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ryan E Radwanski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Greenfield
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Susan C Pannullo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Dai A, Wu LQ, Jacobs RC, Raghuram A, Dhar SU. Implementation of a Medical School Elective Course Incorporating Case-Based Learning: a Pilot Study. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDUCATOR 2020; 30:339-344. [PMID: 34457676 PMCID: PMC8368533 DOI: 10.1007/s40670-019-00911-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Case-based learning (CBL) is a pedagogical method using clinical case studies to reinforce learning topics. A pilot elective course incorporating CBL was offered for first-year medical students. The purpose of this study is to (1) describe the logistics of implementing the course and (2) evaluate its reception among medical students on its efficacy in learning basic science class material. METHOD An 8-week elective course was offered to medical students from 2012 to 2017. Specialists facilitated case discussions synthesizing material from didactic lectures with clinical scenarios. End-of-term surveys with multiple choice and free response questions were distributed to students and described using summary statistics. RESULTS There were 13 cohorts of enrollees, and the average number of students enrolled per cohort was 45.6, out of an average class size of 186 (24.5%, range 36-60). One hundred ninety-eight (64.2%) students reported that the course considerably changed or greatly expanded knowledge. Three hundred two (89.1%) students felt it met a majority of or exceeded expectations. Two hundred eighty-seven (80.2%) responses indicated interest in taking the course again or recommending it to others. One hundred six responses (27.1%) indicated preference for CBL over traditional lectures, and 177 (45.3%) were interested to see CBL integrated into the curriculum. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this CBL elective course was well-received and perceived as effective for better learning class material by students. Additionally, students were receptive to case-based learning and integrating this style of learning into a preclinical curriculum without entirely replacing didactic-based learning. These findings may encourage more medical schools to explore incorporating CBL in the curriculum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annie Dai
- Office of Undergraduate Medical Education, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Laura Q. Wu
- Office of Undergraduate Medical Education, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Ryan C. Jacobs
- Office of Undergraduate Medical Education, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Anjali Raghuram
- Office of Undergraduate Medical Education, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Shweta U. Dhar
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030 USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Sansosti AA, Jacobs RC, Safonova A, Jani RH, Schumann J, Friedlander RM, Lunsford LD, McDowell MM, Sekula RF. Impact of a Hands-on Pre-Clinical Neurosurgery Elective Course on Second-Year Medical Student Interest and Attitudes. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL EDUCATION AND CURRICULAR DEVELOPMENT 2020; 7:2382120520964852. [PMID: 33150209 PMCID: PMC7580150 DOI: 10.1177/2382120520964852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Medical student involvement opportunities and educational experiences with surgical residents during medical school have been shown to increase the chance of students deciding to specialize in surgical specialties. This study aims to determine the effect of a neurosurgery elective during the second preclinical year on student interest and opinion of neurosurgery. METHODS Thirty-nine students completed opinion-based surveys and factual knowledge quizzes during a neurosurgical elective course over 3 iterations, which included lecture and skills lab instruction. Pre- and post-course surveys used the Likert scale, with a score of 1 corresponding to the most negative opinion and a score of 10 corresponding to the most positive opinion, in order to measure various aspects including interest in neurological surgery, understanding of the field, and perception of female inclusion in the field. Weekly pre- and post-lecture quizzes assessed practical knowledge of neurosurgical topics. RESULTS A higher percentage of students rated neurosurgery highly as a career possibility (⩾8/10 interest level) post-course (58.6%) compared to pre-course (45.7%). Post-course, students reported a significantly increased mean understanding of neurosurgery on the Likert scale compared to pre-course (6.1 ± 1.7 vs 4.4 ± 2.0; P = .001). Knowledge based-content assessment revealed a significant increase in overall correct answers after lectures (meanpre = 3.85, meanpost = 5.05, P = .001). Inclusion of female instructors in the second and third iteration of the course resulted in a significant increase in students' perception of female inclusion in the field of neurosurgery (7.6 compared to 5.6, P = .01). CONCLUSIONS Early exposure to subspecialties may assist in making important career decisions. The implementation of this neurosurgical elective improved medical students' perception of the field and enhanced knowledge of the lectures and procedures. This study can be used as a framework for implementation of this curriculum at other institutions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Robert M Friedlander
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - L Dade Lunsford
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michael M McDowell
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Raymond F Sekula
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|