Role modelsʼ perceptions of themselves and their influence on studentsʼ specialty choices

Abstract

The role models in this study agreed with their students about what is important to model. They did not intentionally try to recruit students to join their specialties but felt that demonstrating enthusiasm and a sincere love for what they did has a strong influence toward this end.

Survey Study of Future Specialization Preference and the Factors Affecting the Choice of First, Second and Third Year Medical Students in College of Medicine, Baghdad University

“…Regardless of the source, role models were a powerful influence on the career preference of 22% of students in this study, with the majority being female students who preferred surgery. General surgery and its derivative specialties continue to appeal to graduating students in many countries [18,19] .…”

“…Several studies have cited clinical role models as being important influences on students' residency preferences [5,18,19] . This included negative role models, who drove students away from some specialties [19].…”

“…This included negative role models, who drove students away from some specialties [19]. It is likely that a balance of factors operating before, during and after medical school is involved in any individual's career decision.…”

The Intersection Between Clinical Excellence and Role Modeling in Medicine

“…To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to confirm or quantify the strength of this correlation. [1][2][3][9][10][11] Role models have an impact on the development of future members of the profession. Role models influence career choice and may facilitate the professional growth of medical trainees, perhaps even more so for women and underrepresented minorities in medicine.…”

“…1,2 Attributes and skills of physician role models include humanism, professionalism, passion, and clinical reasoning. [1][2][3][4] These same characteristics have been linked to the definition of clinical excellence in academia. 5,6 Based on this overlap, one might hypothesize a strong correlation between delivering clinically excellent care to patients and serving as an inspiring role model to medical trainees.…”