1
|
Roth SG, Ortiz AV, Feldman MJ, Reisen BE, Mummareddy N, Chitale RV, Chambless LB. "Home Field Advantage": The Presence of a "Home" Neurosurgical Residency Training Program is Associated With Improved Match Outcomes. Neurosurgery 2024:00006123-990000000-01090. [PMID: 38501773 DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000002907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Competition for neurosurgical residency training positions remains fierce. The support provided by applicants' home neurosurgery residency training programs (NRTP) is suspected to play a key role in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) process. We sought to evaluate the impact of the presence of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited NRTP at medical students' home institutions has on NRMP match outcomes. METHODS Our cross-sectional observational study examined all US allopathic senior student Electronic Residency Application Service applications to a single NRTP from 2016 to 2022. RESULTS We analyzed a total of 1650 Electronic Residency Application Service applications to a single NRTP, of which 1432 (86.8%) were from schools with an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited NRTP (NRTP+) and 218 (13.2%) were from schools without a residency (NRTP-). NRTP+ applicants matched a higher rate on both pooled analysis (80.8% vs 71.6%, P = .002) and paired analysis (P = .02) over the seven-cycle study period. This difference was present before (82.4% vs 73.9%, P = .01) and after (77.2% vs 65.6%, P = .046) the COVID-19 pandemic. Cohorts were overall similar; however, NRTP+ applicants had more publication experiences (19.6 ± 19.0 vs 13.1 ± 10.2, P < .001) and were more likely to complete a research gap year (RGY) (25.8% vs 17.0%, P = .004). Completing a RGY was associated with an increased likelihood of matching for NRTP+ applicants but not for NRTP- applicants: NRTP+: 84.9% vs 78.1% (P = .0056); NRTP-: 70.3% vs 70.9% (P = .94). CONCLUSION The presence of a NRTP at a medical student's home institution is associated with improved NRMP match outcomes. This held true both before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants from schools with a NRTP had more publication experiences and were more likely to complete a RGY. Completion of a RGY is associated with an increased likelihood of matching only for students with an affiliated NRTP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven G Roth
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Current Affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Daniel and Jane Och Spine Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Current Affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alexander V Ortiz
- School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- §Current affiliation: TriStar Centennial Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Michael J Feldman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Current Affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Children's of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Breanne E Reisen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nishit Mummareddy
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rohan V Chitale
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Lola B Chambless
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Roy JM, Covell MM, Venero C, Bowers CA. A Medical Student's Guide to Online Resources in Neurosurgery. World Neurosurg 2024; 181:23-28. [PMID: 37832635 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Early exposure to neurosurgery during medical school is critical to improving recruitment into the specialty. About 30% of medical schools in the U.S. lack a home program in neurosurgery, thereby, limiting their exposure to the field of neurosurgery. The transition to virtual education was largely facilitated through webinars during the coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic. Advantages of these resources include their widespread global outreach, with a large number of attendees being international medical students. Although many such resources exist, they are primarily available through social media platforms. To our knowledge, there exists no clear outline of these resources. We identified 16 resources through a database search and through popular social media platforms. Nine out of 16 resources were video based, and 2 utilized the concept of spaced repetition through flashcards. Our review describes these educational resources and aims to serve as a guide for medical students interested in neurosurgery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna M Roy
- Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai, India; Bowers Neurosurgical Frailty & Outcomes Data Science Lab, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Michael M Covell
- Bowers Neurosurgical Frailty & Outcomes Data Science Lab, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA; School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Carmelo Venero
- Bowers Neurosurgical Frailty & Outcomes Data Science Lab, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA; University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Christian A Bowers
- Bowers Neurosurgical Frailty & Outcomes Data Science Lab, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
4
|
Shen J, Yuan L, Ge R, Shao X, Jiang X. Improving medical student recruitment into neurosurgery through teaching reform. BMC Med Educ 2022; 22:656. [PMID: 36056389 PMCID: PMC9440581 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03722-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine whether a combination of case-based learning (CBL) and problem-based learning (PBL) methods in teaching can improve the academic performance and recruitment of medical students for neurosurgery. METHODS Four classes of fourth-year medical students were randomly divided into two groups. The traditional model group received the traditional teaching method, and the CBL-PBL group received the combined teaching methods of CBL and PBL. After the courses, the differences between the two groups in self-perceived competence, satisfaction with the course, post-class test scores, and clinical practice abilities were compared, and the proportions of neurosurgery major selection in pre- and post-curriculum between the two groups were also analyzed. RESULTS Self-perceived competence, post-class test scores, and clinical practice abilities in the CBL-PBL group were better than those in the traditional model group. The students in the CBL-PBL group showed a higher degree of satisfaction with the course than those in the traditional model group (χ2 = 12.03, P = 0.007). At the end of the semester, the proportion of students who chose neurosurgery majors in the CBL-PBL group was 13.3%, more than the 3.4% in the traditional model group (χ2 = 3.93, P = 0.048). CONCLUSION Compared with the traditional teaching method, the CBL and PBL integrated method is more effective for improving the performance of medical students and enhancing their clinical capabilities in neurosurgery teaching. The CBL-PBL method effectively improved students' interests in neurosurgery, potentially contributing to increasing medical student recruitment into neurosurgery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (YiJiShan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Anhui Province, 241001, Wuhu City, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lili Yuan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (YiJiShan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu City, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruixiang Ge
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (YiJiShan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Anhui Province, 241001, Wuhu City, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuefei Shao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (YiJiShan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Anhui Province, 241001, Wuhu City, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaochun Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (YiJiShan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Anhui Province, 241001, Wuhu City, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
6
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
7
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
8
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
9
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
10
|
Kortz MW, Shlobin NA, Radwanski RE, Zappi KE, Johnson JN. The Perceived Utility of 3 Online Resources for Medical Student Neurosurgery Education. World Neurosurg 2022; 163:205-213. [PMID: 35729822 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurosurgery has a high barrier of educational access for medical students. The Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center (MSNTC) is a novel online learning platform that provides on-site and virtual training opportunities and resources that aim to increase student access to neurosurgical education. The objective of this article was to describe student-reported utility of Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center educational resources. METHODS A Qualtrics survey was sent to attendees after the 2020 Virtual Neurosurgery Training Camp. Ratings were quantified on modified 5-point Likert scales and compared using Wilcoxon rank sum tests, with a P value of 0.05. RESULTS Response was obtained from 119 (25.2%) of 473 Virtual Neurosurgery Training Camp registrants. Of respondents, 65 (54.6%) reported prior use of Brain & Spine Report (BSR), 68 (57.14%) reported use of the Video Library (VL), and 78 (65.5%) reported use of the Global Events Calendar (GEC). Among respondents who previously used the BSR, VL, or GEC, mean ratings of usefulness were 3.94 ± 1.01, 4.06 ± 0.91, and 4.10 ± 0.99, respectively. Medical students with a neurosurgery interest group at their home institution reported greater utility of the BSR (P = 0.0008), VL (P = 0.0018), and GEC (P = 0.0250). Medical students with a home program reported greater utility of the BSR (P = 0.0079), and international students reported greater utility of the VL (P = 0.0447). CONCLUSIONS Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center resources appear to have promising preliminary benefits for students. Increasing medical student awareness, continued development of these resources, and objectively assessing outcomes in neurosurgery education are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- 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
| | - 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.
| | - Kyle E Zappi
- 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
| | - Jeremiah N Johnson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zoli M, Zenesini C, Bassani G, Colangelo A, Fayel E, Labanca Lima G, Maestri M, Pinto G, Scibilia A, Conti A, Mazzatenta D. Shadows and Lights: Perspectives of Training and Education in Neurosurgery for Undergraduate Students. Front Surg 2022; 9:882063. [PMID: 35662820 PMCID: PMC9160662 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.882063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Neurosurgical education should start during medical school to involve more students, favoring the recruitment of the most prepared and motivated ones and spreading this subject to the future medical generations. Despite multiple investigations, a dedicated educational plan does not exist. This study aims to assess the undergraduates' interests, needs, and perceptions of this subject. Materials and Methods The survey was structured to collect demographic data of the participants, and to explore their interest in neurosurgery, their consideration of its importance in medical school, their opinions about the role of this subject in medical education, their needs in this training, and, the usefulness of this subject for their future career. Results A total of 156 students participated in the survey. Interest in neurosurgery was shown by 76 (48.7%) participants, however, this subject was also perceived as intimidating by 86 (55.1%). Attending the first 2 years of medical school (p < 0.02), previous interest in neuroscience (p < 0.01), and in a surgical subject (p < 0.01) were the factors associated with a greater interest in this subject. Neurosurgery should be included in all students' education, according to 117 (75.0%) participants and practical operating room training should involve all students, according to 96 (61.5%). The most effective learning methods were considered internship (134, 85.9%), followed by participation in meetings or seminars (113, 72.4%). Online seminars were considered useful by 119 participants (76.3%). Neurosurgery was assessed as a potentially interesting career by 99 students (63.5%), who also considered that it can increase their preparation for other subjects (116, 74.4%). Conclusions Neurosurgery was positively considered by medicals students, who, however, also perceived it as intimidating and hardly approachable. Demonstration that knowledge of neurosurgical concepts can improve their preparation also in general medical settings and, not only in the field of neuroscience, can be useful to promote their interest toward this subject. A combination of lectures and practical internships is considered an effective learning method, which can be fruitfully associated with new technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Zoli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Programma Neurochirurgia Ipofisi - Pituitary Unit, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- *Correspondence: Matteo Zoli
| | - Corrado Zenesini
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gemma Bassani
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Colangelo
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elad Fayel
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Maestri
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pinto
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonino Scibilia
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Neurochirurgia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alfredo Conti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Neurochirurgia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Diego Mazzatenta
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Programma Neurochirurgia Ipofisi - Pituitary Unit, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
13
|
Egiz A, Gillespie CS, Kanmounye US, Bandyopadhyay S; Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group. Letter to the Editor: "The Impact of COVID-19 on International Neurosurgical Electives". World Neurosurg 2022; 157:249-51. [PMID: 34929774 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.09.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
14
|
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 2021; 137:1-13. [PMID: 34826816 DOI: 10.3171/2021.7.jns211530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
15
|
Kortz MW, McCray E, Strasser T, Koller G, Shlobin NA, Chatain GP, Radwanski RE, Dahdaleh NS. The role of medical school prestige and location in neurosurgery residency placement: An analysis of data from 2016 to 2020. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2021; 210:106980. [PMID: 34673366 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There remains a gap in the literature analyzing how categorical variables may affect the highly competitive neurosurgery residency application process for MD Seniors in the United States. We aimed to improve understanding of the impact of medical school prestige and geographic location on candidacy for neurosurgery residency. METHODS Schools were stratified into high and low prestige cohorts based on the U.S. News and World Report Rankings and by geographic location. Publicly available match data displayed by websites of included medical schools from 2016 to 2020 were examined, and neurosurgery residency placement rates were then compared. Analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test and chi-square analysis, with a p-value of 0.05. RESULTS There were 6685 total matches in the high-prestige cohort and 12,997 total matches in the low-prestige cohort, with 115 (1.72%) and 113 (0.87%) neurosurgery matches, respectively (OR = 2.00, p < 0.0001). Considering geographic location, there were 5244 total matches in the Midwest, 3456 total matches in the West, 4994 total matches in the South, and 6053 total matches in the Northeast, with 51 (0.97%), 24 (0.69%), 83 (1.66%), and 114 (1.88%) being neurosurgery residency placements, respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Neurosurgery residency placement may be correlated with attending more prestigious medical schools and those located in the Northeast or South United States. Further elucidation of similar variables may prove to be important as neurosurgery residency becomes more competitive and the evaluation process changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael W Kortz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - Edwin McCray
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Strasser
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City University, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Gretchen Koller
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City University, Kansas City, MO, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Nathan A Shlobin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Grégoire P Chatain
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ryan E Radwanski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Nader S Dahdaleh
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Khalafallah AM, Jimenez AE, Lam S, Gami A, Dornbos DL, Sivakumar W, Johnson JN, Mukherjee D. Burnout among medical students interested in neurosurgery during the COVID-19 era. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2021; 210:106958. [PMID: 34624828 PMCID: PMC8493812 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Objective The novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented new stressors to medical student education. This national survey investigated the prevalence of burnout in U.S. medical students interested in pursuing neurosurgical residency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A 24-question survey was sent to all American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) medical student chapter members. The abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI) was used to measure the following burnout metrics: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Bivariate analyses were conducted and multivariate analyses were performed using a logistic regression models. Results 254 medical students were included (response rate of 14.5%). The majority were male (55.1%), White (66.1%), and between their 2nd and 3rd years in medical school (62.6%). Burnout was identified in 38 (15.0%) respondents, a rate lower than reported in the pre-COVID era. In multivariate analysis, burnout was significantly associated with choosing not to pursue, or feeling uncertain about pursuing, a medical career again if given the choice (OR = 3.40, p = 0.0075), having second thoughts about choosing to pursue neurosurgery (OR = 3.47, p = 0.0025), attending a medical program in the Northeast compared to the Southeast (OR = 0.32, p = 0.027) or Southwest U.S. (OR = 0.30, p = 0.046), and indicating that one’s future clinical performance will have worsened due to COVID-19 (OR = 2.71, p = 0.025). Conclusions Our study demonstrates relatively low rates of burnout among U.S. medical students interested in pursuing neurosurgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings also demonstrate multiple factors may aid in early identification of burnout, highlighting potential opportunities for intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adham M Khalafallah
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Adrian E Jimenez
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shravika Lam
- Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Abhishek Gami
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David L Dornbos
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Walavan Sivakumar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Jeremiah N Johnson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Debraj Mukherjee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Kortz MW, Shlobin NA, Radwanski RE, Mureb M, DiGiorgio AM. Virtual Neurosurgery Education for Medical Students without Home Residency Programs: A Survey of 2020 Virtual Neurosurgery Training Camp Attendees. World Neurosurg 2021; 157:e148-e155. [PMID: 34619405 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.09.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the perceived effectiveness of the virtual neurosurgery training camps (VNTC) among medical students with (HP) and without (NHP) home neurosurgery residency programs. METHODS A survey assessing demographics, baseline interests, and ratings of usefulness and interest of programming was sent to attendees after the VNTC. Ratings were quantified on modified 7-point Likert scales. Ratings were compared between attendees HP and NHP neurosurgery residency programs using Wilcoxon sum-rank or χ2 tests. A P value of 0.05 determined significance. RESULTS There were 119 respondents, with 80 (67.2%) HP and 39 (32.8%) NHP students. Differences were observed between the groups for medical school type (P = 0.002), highest degree achieved (P = 0.030), previous participation in a Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center event (P = 0.004), having a neurosurgery interest group (P < 0.001), and primary reason for VNTC attendance (P = 0.028). Increased interest in peripheral nerve neurosurgery was greater for the NHP (P = 0.047) but not neurosurgery or other subspecialties. A significant difference in usefulness of the different VNTC sessions was observed (P = 0.002), whereas none was seen in willingness to pursue neurosurgery (P = 0.33), likelihood of taking a year off (P = 0.44), and preparedness for subinternships (P = 0.57) or applications (P = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS The 2020 VNTC benefited both HPO and NHP medical students, but there were differences in perceived usefulness of virtual education. Future initiatives should continue to be tailored toward disadvantaged students.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael W Kortz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, 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
| | - 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
| | - Monica Mureb
- Department of Neurosurgery, New York Medical College and Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Anthony M DiGiorgio
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center, Brain and Spine Group, Inc., Pasadena, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
|