Leah K Winer1, Matthew P Vivero2, Brendan F Scully3, Alexander R Cortez1, Al-Faraaz Kassam1, Roman Nowygrod3, Adam D Griesemer4, Jean C Emond4, Ralph C Quillin5. 1. Cincinnati Research on Education in Surgical Training (CREST), Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio. 2. Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. 3. Department of Surgery, Columbia University, New York, New York. 4. Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, Columbia University, New York, New York. 5. Cincinnati Research on Education in Surgical Training (CREST), Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio. Electronic address: ralph.quillin@uc.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the medical student experience with a deceased-donor multiorgan procurement program at a single center. The program provided the opportunity to assist with organ procurement, but no formal curriculum was offered. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: In 2018, medical students who registered for the program between 2014 and 2017 completed a voluntary survey about the experience and its impact on surgery interest and organ donation knowledge and advocacy. RESULTS: Of 139 respondents, 53.3% (N = 74) of students participated in at least one procurement. The experience was resoundingly positive: 81.7% (N = 58) believed it exceeded expectations, with less than one-third missing class and only 4.3% (N = 3) reporting a negative impact on academics. Although 60.6% (N = 43) students studied prior to procurement, 57.8% (N = 41) expressed the need for increased preparation. Preferred learning modalities included videos, discussion with the transplant fellows, and focused anatomy overview. Following participation, 53.5% (N = 38) of students had increased interest in pursuing an acting internship and career in surgery. However, participation was not associated with improved familiarity with organ donation concepts or advocacy. CONCLUSIONS: Adding a structured curriculum may turn medical students from passive observers into active learners, maximizing the educational value of procurement and better equipping future providers to promote organ donation.
OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the medical student experience with a deceased-donor multiorgan procurement program at a single center. The program provided the opportunity to assist with organ procurement, but no formal curriculum was offered. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: In 2018, medical students who registered for the program between 2014 and 2017 completed a voluntary survey about the experience and its impact on surgery interest and organ donation knowledge and advocacy. RESULTS: Of 139 respondents, 53.3% (N = 74) of students participated in at least one procurement. The experience was resoundingly positive: 81.7% (N = 58) believed it exceeded expectations, with less than one-third missing class and only 4.3% (N = 3) reporting a negative impact on academics. Although 60.6% (N = 43) students studied prior to procurement, 57.8% (N = 41) expressed the need for increased preparation. Preferred learning modalities included videos, discussion with the transplant fellows, and focused anatomy overview. Following participation, 53.5% (N = 38) of students had increased interest in pursuing an acting internship and career in surgery. However, participation was not associated with improved familiarity with organ donation concepts or advocacy. CONCLUSIONS: Adding a structured curriculum may turn medical students from passive observers into active learners, maximizing the educational value of procurement and better equipping future providers to promote organ donation.
Keywords:
Interpersonal and Communication Skills; Medical Knowledge; Medical student education; Organ donation; Organ procurement; Patient Care; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; Surgery interest
Authors: Robert K Parker; Michael M Mwachiro; Hillary M Topazian; Richard Davis; Albert F Nyanga; Zachary O'Connor; Stephen L Burgert; Mark D Topazian Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2020-11-30 Impact factor: 4.584