Improving Medical Student Recruitment into Plastic Surgery: A Survey of Orphaned Medical Students

Sasson, Daniel C; Shah, Nikhil D.; Yuksel, Selcen S.; Applebaum, Sarah A.; Gosain, Arun K.

doi:10.1016/j.jsurg.2021.08.009

Cited by 10 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Multiple historically Black medical schools are among the medical schools without an affiliated plastic surgery residency program. In Sasson et al 14 (2022), 89% of students without a home program were unable to identify a mentor in plastic surgery. In Keane et al 4 (2022), more than half of residents who studied at medical schools without home programs endorsed that accessing resources at institutions with home integrated residency programs was significantly helpful in matching.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The West Coast Plastic Surgery Mentorship Program

et al. 2023

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BackgroundStudents who are underrepresented in medicine experience limited access to mentorship throughout medical school and when applying to plastic surgery residency. This study describes the creation, growth, and results of the multi-institutional West Coast Plastic Surgery Mentorship Program (WCPSMP), specifically reflecting on barriers to implementation and room for future improvement.MethodsStudents were eligible to apply to the plastic surgery mentorship program if they were first-, second-, or third-year medical students in a US medical school interested in plastic surgery. Preference was given to students who are (1) underrepresented-in-medicine racial/ethnic minorities; (2) first generation, low income; (3) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer; and/or (4) without a home integrated plastic surgery program. Preprogram and postprogram surveys were analyzed.ResultsThe 2021–2022 cycle of the WCPSMP included 30 resident mentors and 30 resident mentees, with a 1:1 mentor-to-mentee relationship. The second annual Mentor-Mentee Day was hosted on June 25, 2022, in San Diego, California, with attendance from 18 mentees. There was a 63% response rate in the presurvey and postsurvey. Most students endorsed gaining didactic skills, technical skills, and networking, but only a few gained research opportunities.ConclusionThe WCPSMP is a promising venue to offer underrepresented medical students valuable resident mentorship, as well as acquire surgical knowledge and skills. Further development of the program includes implementing a curriculum for residents on how to be an effective mentor and offering more research opportunities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The West Coast Plastic Surgery Mentorship Program

et al. 2023

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“…A study performed by Sasson et al demonstrated that nearly 60% of students interested in plastic surgery reported difficulties establishing a mentormentee relationship because they simply did not know where to find one. [11] The American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons (ACAPS) has since developed a database to pair institutions without HRPs with sister institutions with residency programs. [27] This database consists of name and contact information of sister institutions program This article is protected by copyright.…”

Section: Improving Mentorship Pairingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly, more than half of students reported being extremely concerned about matching. [11][12][13][14] Additionally, with the implementation of a P/F United State Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 score, students without an HRP might be at an even greater disadvantage in the Match process. [15][16][17] The USMLE Step 1 test has been historically used as an objective measure to distinguish students.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying Barriers Faced by Applicants without a Home Residency Program when Matching into Plastic Surgery

Zeng,

Zhang,

Porras

et al. 2023

Arch Plast Surg

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BACKGROUND Applying into plastic surgery is competitive. Lacking a home residency program (HRP) is another barrier. Our goal is to characterize challenges faced by plastic surgery (PS) applicants without HRPs and identify solutions. METHODS Surveys were designed for current integrated PS residents and applicants in the 2022 Match without HRPs. Surveys were distributed electronically. Only U.S. allopathic graduate responses were included. RESULTS Of 182 individuals surveyed, 74 responded (39%, 33-residents, 41-applicants). Sixty-six percent reported feeling disadvantaged due to lacking an HRP. 76% of applicants successfully matched. Of these, 48% felt they required academic time off (research year) vs 10% of unmatched applicants. 97% of matched applicants identified a mentor vs 40% of unmatched applicants (p<0.05). Matched applicants identified mentors through research (29%) and cold calling/emailing (25%). Matched vs unmatched applicants utilized the following resources: senior students (74vs10%), (p<0.05) and social media (52vs10%), (p<0.05). Among residents, sixteen had PS divisions (48%). Thirty-six percent with divisions felt they had opportunities to explore PS, compared to 12% without divisions. Residents without divisions felt disadvantaged in finding research (94vs65%, p<0.05), delayed in deciding on PS (50vs28%), and obtaining mentors (44vs35%) and letters of recommendation (LOR) (31vs24%). CONCLUSIONS PS residents and applicants without HRPs reported feeling disadvantaged when matching. The data suggest access to departments or divisions assists in matching. We identified external outreach and research were successful strategies to obtain mentorship. To increase awareness for unaffiliated applicants, we should increase networking opportunities during local, regional, and national meetings.

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“…Research opportunities, either the presence or lack of, were cited as an influential factor in four articles, three of which demonstrated the importance of research opportunities in URiM medical students interested in otolaryngology and plastic surgery. 17,23,27,28 The presence of research opportunities was an important factor in specialty choice for students interested in a career in otolaryngology, especially among first-year medical students. However, the competitiveness of the field, as measured by the number of research publications prior to residency application, was a reason URiM students interested in otolaryngology felt deterred from applying to an OHNS residency.…”

Section: Female-identifying Medical Studentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Influencing Underrepresented Medical Students' Career Choice in Surgical Subspecialties

Pershad,

Kidwai,

Lugo

et al. 2023

The Laryngoscope

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ObjectivesSurgical subspecialties rank among the least racially and gender diverse of the medical specialties. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the current factors that influence female, gender and sexual minority (GSM), and underrepresented in medicine (URiM)‐identifying medical students' decision to pursue a career in a surgical subspecialty.Data sourcesA structured literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Criteria for eligibility included surveys and interviews assessing factors and barriers influencing underrepresented medical students' career choices.Review methodsTwo independent researchers screened the articles' titles and abstracts for relevance; three performed full‐text reviews.ResultsOf 343 studies identified, 17 met the inclusion criteria. Fourteen (82%) were survey‐based studies; three (18%) were qualitative interviews. Represented minorities included females (14), URiM (13), and GSM (4). Female medical students were most influenced by (1) exposure to surgery, (2) mentorship, and (3) surgical lifestyle. URiM medical students were most influenced by (1) mentorship, (2) culture and diversity, (3) research opportunities, and (4) personality fit. GSM medical students were most influenced by identity acceptance and instances of discrimination and bias.ConclusionsOur review provides granular data on positive and negative factors influencing career choice among underrepresented medical students to facilitate the development of a more diverse surgical workforce. Female medical students were more positively influenced by increased exposure to surgical subspecialties, whereas URiM medical students were more positively influenced by race‐concordant mentorship. Laryngoscope, 2023

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Improving Medical Student Recruitment into Plastic Surgery: A Survey of Orphaned Medical Students

Cited by 10 publications

References 18 publications

The West Coast Plastic Surgery Mentorship Program

The West Coast Plastic Surgery Mentorship Program

Identifying Barriers Faced by Applicants without a Home Residency Program when Matching into Plastic Surgery

Factors Influencing Underrepresented Medical Students' Career Choice in Surgical Subspecialties

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