Abstract
Background
Medical student research is a critical component of undergraduate medical education, but few studies have looked at the impact of medical student research on career paths, including specialty choice. In this study, the authors surveyed current and former Mayo medical students regarding their research experiences before, during, and after medical school to determine the relationship of medical student research and specialty choice.
Methods
The authors created a survey about medical student research using the “Google Forms” software in accordance with an IRB-approved protocol. They surveyed 1133 current and former Mayo Medical School students from the 1976–2014 graduating classes, receiving 374 responses (33 % response rate).
Results
The authors grouped the respondents’ specialties into historically competitive specialties (Group 2), which had higher average USMLE Step 1 and 2 scores (higher than 240) and higher proportions of AOA members (higher than 20 %), and the remaining specialties (Group 1). Group 2 respondents had a significantly stronger pre-medical school interest in research and produced more medical school and graduate medical training publications and presentations than Group 1. Overall, students reported that their specialty choice had a stronger impact on their medical research than the impact of their research on their specialty choice.
Conclusions
Historically competitive specialties tend to have more students interested in conducting and efficient in producing research during medical school and graduate medical training compared with other specialties. Students report that specialty choice significantly impacts medical student research and academic productivity.
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Acknowledgements
We want to thank the Mayo Clinic Alumni Association and the Mayo Medical School Administrative Offices for assistance in gathering alumni information.
Competing Interests
The authors do not have any competing interests to disclose.
Authors’ Contributions
J.G.P. prepared and conducted the survey, analyzed the composite data, prepared the figures, and wrote the manuscript. J.P.G. provided intellectual guidance and helped to revise the manuscript.
Authors’ Information
J.G.P. is a transitional intern at San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC) entering a radiology residency program at SAUSHEC.
J.P.G. is a professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
Disclaimers
The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of Brooke Army Medical Center, the U.S. Army Medical Department, the U.S. Army Office of the Surgeon General, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force and Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
Previous Presentations
This study was presented as a poster presentation at the 2014 Annual International Association of Medical Science Educators Meeting in Nashville, TN, June 7–10, 2014, where it won the best poster presentation award.
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Peacock, J.G., Grande, J.P. Specialty Choice Influences Medical Student Research and Productivity. Med.Sci.Educ. 25, 127–132 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-015-0117-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-015-0117-7