Vittorio Stumpo1, Kristy Latour1, Jeffrey I Traylor2, Victor E Staartjes3, Martina Giordano4, Valerio Maria Caccavella1, Alessandro Olivi5, Luca Ricciardi5, Francesco Signorelli6. 1. School of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. 2. Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 4. School of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: msmgiordano@gmail.com. 5. School of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy; Istituto di Neurochirurgia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 6. Istituto di Neurochirurgia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Recent years have witnessed an increase in articles describing factors influencing medical student recruitment in neurosurgery, such as undergraduate preparation, impact of research experience, and selection into residency programs. In this study, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature addressing the relationship of medical students within neurosurgery. METHODS: A search of the literature was conducted on the PubMed/MEDLINE database to October 2018 to screen for studies on medical student interest and recruitment in neurosurgery. Articles were screened for eligibility and reviewed for inclusion and their findings critically discussed. RESULTS: Sixty-nine articles were included. Most research on the relationship of medical students with neurosurgery was conducted in the United States and United Kingdom. Data analysis was categorized into 2 groups: educational and noneducational factors. Eight areas of interest were identified: baseline undergraduate education, early research involvement, attitude toward neuroscience, mentoring, existence of a gender gap, residency program requirements, availability of educational resources, and networking opportunities. CONCLUSIONS: Our study bridges the gap of fragmented knowledge on medical student involvement in neurosurgery with the aim of optimizing existing approaches. We suggest that medical institutions outside the United States and United Kingdom should implement university-based interest groups to stimulate student interest, with reinforced participation of faculty for leading educational initiatives and collaborative research. We advocate the creation of national and international associations to support medical students in approaching neurosurgery early in their education.
OBJECTIVE: Recent years have witnessed an increase in articles describing factors influencing medical student recruitment in neurosurgery, such as undergraduate preparation, impact of research experience, and selection into residency programs. In this study, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature addressing the relationship of medical students within neurosurgery. METHODS: A search of the literature was conducted on the PubMed/MEDLINE database to October 2018 to screen for studies on medical student interest and recruitment in neurosurgery. Articles were screened for eligibility and reviewed for inclusion and their findings critically discussed. RESULTS: Sixty-nine articles were included. Most research on the relationship of medical students with neurosurgery was conducted in the United States and United Kingdom. Data analysis was categorized into 2 groups: educational and noneducational factors. Eight areas of interest were identified: baseline undergraduate education, early research involvement, attitude toward neuroscience, mentoring, existence of a gender gap, residency program requirements, availability of educational resources, and networking opportunities. CONCLUSIONS: Our study bridges the gap of fragmented knowledge on medical student involvement in neurosurgery with the aim of optimizing existing approaches. We suggest that medical institutions outside the United States and United Kingdom should implement university-based interest groups to stimulate student interest, with reinforced participation of faculty for leading educational initiatives and collaborative research. We advocate the creation of national and international associations to support medical students in approaching neurosurgery early in their education.
Authors: Adham M Khalafallah; Adrian E Jimenez; Shravika Lam; Abhishek Gami; David L Dornbos; Walavan Sivakumar; Jeremiah N Johnson; Debraj Mukherjee Journal: Clin Neurol Neurosurg Date: 2021-09-28 Impact factor: 1.876
Authors: Ibrahim Alnaami; Mohammad Tauheed Ahmad; Mohammed Abid Khan; Khaled A Amer; Abdullah Alsaedan; Abdulaziz Alanazi; Sarah Alkhonizy; Abdulaziz Alamri Journal: Medicina (Kaunas) Date: 2022-08-18 Impact factor: 2.948