A study of career choice patterns among Canadian medical students

Factors Influencing Career Choice of Female Surgical Trainees

“…15 Further, positive rotations and development of role models were associated with those choosing to enter surgery. 16 Findings relating to work-life balance and domestic circumstances in this study are supported by other studies, 10,12 but contrasts with the more general finding that lifestyle is a very important aspect of career choice for men and women. 11,12 Consistent with the findings of this study, medical students and F1s have been found to be less concerned about lifestyle issues and instead are deterred by perceptions of the specialty as unattractive.…”

Exposure to plastic surgery during undergraduate medical training: A single-institution review

“…Most would likely attribute this decreased interest in plastic surgery to a generalized decline in surgical interest (9,10,14). The results of our survey suggest this may not be the case.…”

“…All of these factors differ greatly from traditional surgical training. Although this concept of a 'generational gap' is not novel -for example, Rohrich (6) highlighted similar issues in a discussion on the difficulties of training surgeons from Generation X (born 1961 to 1981) -today's medical students appear to be less interested in surgical careers than ever before, instead opting for 'lifestyle' specialties that allow a greater work-life balance (7)(8)(9). Undergraduate medical education programs have perpetuated this decline by increasing enrollment and modifying their curricula in efforts to attract students to careers in primary care (10,11).…”

Awareness and Impact Of Wins on Female Surgical Trainees

“…A study of Canadian medical students found those pursuing general surgery were more likely to have met positive role models. 7 Similarly, other studies have shown role models in the specialty of interest to have been an important factor influencing career choice. 8 In addition, a perceived lack of role models has been cited as a contributing factor to women rejecting surgical careers.…”

“…It is a consistent finding in the literature that experiences during medical school and PRHO years are an important influence on eventual career choice. 7 Increasing awareness of positive surgical role models in these formative years may therefore attract more female graduates to the specialty and help dispel the perception of male predominance. Moreover, research shows that surgery holds the highest rate of concordance between early career choice (as a medical student, at graduation and at 1 and 3 years postgraduate) and eventual career path.…”