Characteristics of graduating US allopathic medical students pursuing a career in neurology

Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (17) ◽  
pp. e2051-e2063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Gutmann ◽  
Carolyn Cahill ◽  
Justin T. Jordan ◽  
Charlene E. Gamaldo ◽  
Veronica Santini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Selection Response ◽  
Specialty Choice ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Mentoring Programs ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Student Questionnaire

ObjectivesTo identify factors associated with medical students becoming neurologists because, despite the increasing burden of neurologic disorders, there is a growing neurologist shortage.MethodsDeidentified data from the Association of American Medical Colleges Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ) and Graduation Questionnaire (GQ) were obtained for the graduation years 2013 to 2014 through 2016 to 2017. Logistic regression was used to assess demographic characteristics and responses to training and career-related questions in association with specialty choice (intent to enter neurology).ResultsOf the 51,816 students with complete data, 1,456 (2.8%) indicated an intent to enter a neurology residency. Factors associated with an increased likelihood of entering neurology were a student's rating of excellent for their basic neuroscience course and neurology clerkship, participation in an MD/PhD program, majoring in neuroscience or psychology as an undergraduate, a selection response of “content of the specialty was a strong influence on career choice,” and indicating interest in neurology on the MSQ. Factors associated with a decreased likelihood of entering neurology were a higher-priority response on the GQ for salary, work/life balance, and personal fit of the specialty.ConclusionData from surveys at the entry into and graduation from medical school suggest several approaches to increase the number of medical students entering neurology, including a focus on the student-reported quality of the basic neuroscience course and neurology clerkships, targeted engagement with MD/PhD students, and mentoring programs for students interested in neurology. Efforts to improve salaries for neurologists, to reduce medical school debt, and to improve work/life balance may also help to attract more students.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Choice of Medical Specialty among Ophthalmology and Non-Ophthalmology Residency Applicants

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (02) ◽  
pp. e129-e137
Author(s):  
David Cui ◽  
Andreas M. Wingert ◽  
Ingrid U. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
Specialty Choice ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Professional Satisfaction ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Clinical Rotations ◽  
Strong Interest ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Penn State ◽  
Preclinical Curriculum

Abstract Objective The study aimed to investigate factors influencing choice of specialty among ophthalmology and non-ophthalmology residency applicants. Patients and Methods Anonymous, web-based surveys were distributed through REDCap to the 2019 to 2020 residency applicants to the Penn State Department of Ophthalmology and, as a control group, Penn State medical students applying to non-ophthalmology residencies for the 2019 to 2020 cycle. The primary outcome was factors that influenced specialty choice among ophthalmology versus non-ophthalmology applicants. Secondary outcomes include hours of exposure to applicants' selected specialty in the medical school preclinical curriculum, and proportion of ophthalmology versus non-ophthalmology applicants who decided on, or developed a strong interest in, their specialty prior to clinical rotations. Results Surveys were completed by 203/441 (46.0%) ophthalmology and 85/139 (61.1%) non-ophthalmology applicants. Fewer than 20 hours of exposure to an applicant's selected specialty were provided in the medical school preclinical curriculum for 86.7% of ophthalmology and 42.4% of non-ophthalmology applicants (p < 0.001). Ophthalmology applicants decided on, or developed a strong interest in, their selected specialty before clinical rotations at a similar rate to non-ophthalmology applicants (60.6 vs. 58.8%, respectively). Factors influencing specialty choice cited most commonly by ophthalmology applicants include professional satisfaction (94.1%), performing surgeries/procedures (92.6%), personal fit with specialty (91.1%), work-life balance (91.1%), and ability to see patients in a clinic setting (90.6%), compared to personal fit with specialty (95.3%)%, clinical rotation in selected specialty (95.3%), professional satisfaction (91.8%), intellectual stimulation (89.4%), and subinternship or away rotation (89.4%) among non-ophthalmology applicants. Conclusion Professional satisfaction and personal fit with specialty were among the most commonly cited factors influencing specialty choice for both groups. Other factors cited most frequently by ophthalmology applicants include performing surgeries/procedures, work-life balance, and ability to see patients in a clinic setting. Despite limited ophthalmology exposure in medical school preclinical curricula, ophthalmology applicants decided on, or developed a strong interest in, their selected specialty before clinical rotations at a rate similar to non-ophthalmology applicants.

scholarly journals Views of Japanese medical students on the work-life balance of female physicians

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 165-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiko Takahashi ◽  
Tomoni Nin ◽  
Megumi Akano ◽  
Yukiko Hasuike ◽  
Hiroko Iijima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Female Physicians ◽  
Life Balance

scholarly journals Factors associated with Work-Life Balance and Productivity before and during Work from Home

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourdes Marie S. Tejero ◽  
Rosemary R. Seva ◽  
Vivien Fe F. Fadrilan-Camacho
Keyword(s):  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Work From Home

Factors Influencing Hematology Career Choice in Hematology and Oncology Fellows at a Major Academic Institution

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 3538-3538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie H Wallace ◽  
Janet P Hafler ◽  
Michael E Hurwitz ◽  
Nikolai A Podoltsev ◽  
Jill Lacy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
Career Decisions ◽  
Lifestyle Factors ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Subspecialty Training ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Clinical Exposure ◽  
Research Opportunities ◽  
Factors Influencing

Abstract INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND The majority of graduating fellows from hematology/oncology subspecialty training programs in the U.S. pursue careers in medical oncology or in non-academic fields. A workforce shortage of physicians specializing in hematology has been predicted for the next decade. Large-scale surveys have identified a number of factors responsible for this trend, including financial considerations, educational debt, work-life balance, and fellowship exposure. Qualitative studies in other subspecialty fields have yielded unique insights into specific factors motivating career decisions, but no such study has been conducted in hematology. We performed a qualitative study to identify factors influencing trainees' perceptions of careers in hematology. METHODS Senior or graduating fellows in the hematology/oncology training program at Yale School of Medicine were invited to participate in this study. Semi-structured interviews lasting between 30 and 90 minutes were conducted. Recordings were transcribed and analyzed using the framework method. RESULTS Eight trainees participated in the study, five in their senior year of training, three shortly after graduation. Five were female. Three held dual M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. Most were planning on an academic career or a career with an academic affiliation; two were specifically pursuing careers in benign or malignant hematology. Trainees' career decisions and perceptions of hematology revolved around five major themes: serendipity, mentorship, clinical exposure and teaching, intellectual interest, and lifestyle factors. Most trainees identified seminal, career-defining experiences prior to medical school but were not influenced by medical school classroom experiences and were not differentiated at the start of fellowship with respect to a hematology- or oncology-oriented career. By the end of their first year of fellowship, almost all had decided to pursue careers in solid tumor oncology owing to clinical exposure and research opportunities. Mentorship was identified as the single most important determinant, with mentorship opportunities tending to occur "randomly" or by "happenstance," and with oncology having "more" "available mentors" who played a "huge role" in the career-decision process. Trainees characterized hematology as having a less desirable work/life balance than oncology, and trainees' experiences on the inpatient hematology services caused some of them to feel "burned out." Despite this, fellows commonly perceived hematology to be more "interesting" and "challenging" than oncology, with "much more complex" disease pathology. Financial considerations were of importance to only a minority of trainees. CONCLUSIONS Mentorship and research opportunities are the major factors guiding career decisions among hematology/oncology fellows. An increase in structured mentorship opportunities in hematology may lead to greater trainee recruitment. Trainees view hematology as an intellectually engaging field although lifestyle factors render it less desirable than oncology. Disclosures Podoltsev: Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Ariad: Consultancy, Honoraria.

scholarly journals Work-life balance in medical students: self-care in a culture of self-sacrifice

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aled Picton
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Study Skills ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Medical Council ◽  
Life Balance

Abstract Background Work-life balance is a key contributor to doctors’ wellbeing and consequently is a central factor in their career decisions. General Medical Council guidance outlines the importance of work-life balance as part of compassionate self-care. Learning self-care should begin as an undergraduate, when academic and clinical workload can contribute to stress, anxiety and burnout. Methods Sequential mixed methods study of medical students in Years 3–5 at the University of Birmingham, UK. Students (n = 145) defined work-life balance in free-text answers and self-assessed their current work-life balance via questionnaires. Following this, a sub-sample of students (n = 44) participated in exploratory individual mini-interviews. Results Work-life balance emerged as a broad and multifactorial concept. Questionnaire respondents most frequently referenced enjoyment, meeting work requirements and time management in their definitions. Interview participants highlighted additional influencing factors such as peer groups, study skills, family and professional culture. Students expect a significant shift towards work after graduating and expressed concerns about the stresses of delivering patient care. 42% (n = 60) of students felt they had received support with their work-life balance during their training, mostly from family and friends. Most students had not received support or advice on their work-life balance from University or hospital staff. Conclusion Self-care and work-life balance are essential for medical students and doctors to cope with lifelong learning and deliver effective care. Medical school staff should be pro-active in supporting students to develop these skills, particularly during critical transition periods. Early interventions targeting study skills and time management may be beneficial. Further research should include students in Years 1–2 and compare different institutions.

scholarly journals Burnout in Female Faculty Members

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Cassidy-Vu ◽  
Keli Beck ◽  
Justin B. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Medical School ◽  
Academic Medicine ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Female Faculty ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Faculty Position ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Gender Specific

Despite approximately equal numbers of male and female medical school graduates, women are entering academic medicine at a lower rate than their male colleagues. Of those who do assume a faculty position, female faculty members report higher levels of burnout, often attributable to gender-specific difficulties in clinical expectations and maintenance of work-life balance. Many of these struggles are attributable to issues that are amenable to supportive policies, but these policies are inconsistent in their availability and practice. This commentary presents evidence for inconsistencies in the day-to-day experience of female faculty members, and proposes solutions for the mitigation of the challenges experienced more often by female faculty members with the goal of diversifying and strengthening academic medicine.

scholarly journals Relationship between medical students’ negative perceptions of colleagues’ work–life and burn-out during clerkships: a longitudinal observational cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e049672
Author(s):  
Yung Kai Lin ◽  
Blossom Yen-Ju Lin ◽  
Chia-Der Lin ◽  
Der-Yuan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Contagion Effects ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
Burn Out ◽  
Negative Perceptions

ObjectiveBecause work and educational environments are closely related and can affect each other, this study examined whether medical students’ negative perceptions of their colleagues’ work–life balance (NWLB) during their clinical rotations would be related to burn-out in clerkships and investigated the effect of students’ gender on this relationship.DesignA longitudinal, prospective 2-year cohort study conducted between September 2013 and April 2015.SettingMedical students from a university school of medicine in Taiwan.ParticipantsOne voluntary cohort of undergraduate medical students in clerkships was invited to participate. Among 190 medical students recruited in September 2013, a total of 124 students provided written informed consent. Participants were free to decide whether to complete each survey; therefore, varying numbers of responses were obtained during the study period. Those who responded to our survey for more than 6 months were included in our analyses. Overall, 2128 responses from 94 medical students were analysed, with each student providing an average of 23 responses for 2 years.Primary outcome measureBurn-out was measured using the Professional Quality of Life Scale.ResultsOur study found that a strong NWLB was related to high burn-out levels among medical students during their clerkships (p<0.001). However, the gender of the student had no effect on this relationship (p>0.05). In addition, our study indicated that medical students living with a companion had decreased burn-out levels than did those living alone during their clerkships.ConclusionsThe significance of policies promoting employee work–life balance should be emphasised because of the potential for social contagion effects on medical students. Clerkship trainees might be vulnerable to such negative contagion effects during the transition to their early clinical workplace training and may, therefore, require advanced socialisation and mentoring.

scholarly journals Importance of work–life balance among German medical students who wish to become gynecologists

2014 ◽  
Vol 291 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kasch ◽  
L. Stollhof ◽  
A. P. Schulz ◽  
S. Froehlich ◽  
H. Merk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Life Balance
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