A National Survey Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students Pursuing Careers in Neurosurgery
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted medical education and the residency application process. Methods: We conducted a descriptive observational study in April 2020 of medical students and foreign medical graduates considering or pursuing careers in neurosurgery in the United St...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | NeuroSci |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4087/2/4/23 |
| _version_ | 1797501923124838400 |
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| author | Roxanna M. Garcia Rebecca A. Reynolds Hannah K. Weiss Nathan A. Shlobin Lola B. Chambless Sandi Lam Nader S. Dahdaleh Gail Rosseau |
| author_facet | Roxanna M. Garcia Rebecca A. Reynolds Hannah K. Weiss Nathan A. Shlobin Lola B. Chambless Sandi Lam Nader S. Dahdaleh Gail Rosseau |
| author_sort | Roxanna M. Garcia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted medical education and the residency application process. Methods: We conducted a descriptive observational study in April 2020 of medical students and foreign medical graduates considering or pursuing careers in neurosurgery in the United States to examine the impact of the pandemic. Results: A total of 379 respondents from 67 medical schools completed the survey. Across all participants, 92% (n = 347) stopped in-person didactic education, and 43% (n = 161) experienced basic science and 44% (n = 167) clinical research delays. Sixty percent (n = 227) cited a negative impact on academic productivity. Among first year students, 18% (n = 17) were less likely to pursue a career in neurosurgery. Over half of second year and third year students were likely to delay taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination Steps I and II. Among third year students, 77% (n = 91) reported indefinite postponement of sub-internships, and 43% (n = 53) were unsatisfied with communication from external programs. Many fourth-year students (50%, n = 17) were graduating early to participate in COVID-19-related patient care. Top student-requested support activities included access to student-focused educational webinars and sessions at upcoming conferences. Conclusions: Medical students pursuing careers in neurosurgery faced unique academic, career, and personal challenges secondary to the pandemic. These challenges may become opportunities for new initiatives guided by professional organizations and residency programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:25:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9598b14d88264143b50e75bfaf94b02e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-4087 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:25:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeuroSci |
| spelling | doaj.art-9598b14d88264143b50e75bfaf94b02e2023-11-23T09:53:39ZengMDPI AGNeuroSci2673-40872021-10-012432033310.3390/neurosci2040023A National Survey Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students Pursuing Careers in NeurosurgeryRoxanna M. Garcia0Rebecca A. Reynolds1Hannah K. Weiss2Nathan A. Shlobin3Lola B. Chambless4Sandi Lam5Nader S. Dahdaleh6Gail Rosseau7Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg, Chicago, IL 60611, USADepartment of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USADepartment of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg, Chicago, IL 60611, USADepartment of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg, Chicago, IL 60611, USADepartment of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USADepartment of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg, Chicago, IL 60611, USADepartment of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg, Chicago, IL 60611, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USABackground: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted medical education and the residency application process. Methods: We conducted a descriptive observational study in April 2020 of medical students and foreign medical graduates considering or pursuing careers in neurosurgery in the United States to examine the impact of the pandemic. Results: A total of 379 respondents from 67 medical schools completed the survey. Across all participants, 92% (n = 347) stopped in-person didactic education, and 43% (n = 161) experienced basic science and 44% (n = 167) clinical research delays. Sixty percent (n = 227) cited a negative impact on academic productivity. Among first year students, 18% (n = 17) were less likely to pursue a career in neurosurgery. Over half of second year and third year students were likely to delay taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination Steps I and II. Among third year students, 77% (n = 91) reported indefinite postponement of sub-internships, and 43% (n = 53) were unsatisfied with communication from external programs. Many fourth-year students (50%, n = 17) were graduating early to participate in COVID-19-related patient care. Top student-requested support activities included access to student-focused educational webinars and sessions at upcoming conferences. Conclusions: Medical students pursuing careers in neurosurgery faced unique academic, career, and personal challenges secondary to the pandemic. These challenges may become opportunities for new initiatives guided by professional organizations and residency programs.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4087/2/4/23COVID-19pandemicseducation, medical, graduatestudents, medicalneurosurgeryinternship and residency |
| spellingShingle | Roxanna M. Garcia Rebecca A. Reynolds Hannah K. Weiss Nathan A. Shlobin Lola B. Chambless Sandi Lam Nader S. Dahdaleh Gail Rosseau A National Survey Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students Pursuing Careers in Neurosurgery NeuroSci COVID-19 pandemics education, medical, graduate students, medical neurosurgery internship and residency |
| title | A National Survey Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students Pursuing Careers in Neurosurgery |
| title_full | A National Survey Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students Pursuing Careers in Neurosurgery |
| title_fullStr | A National Survey Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students Pursuing Careers in Neurosurgery |
| title_full_unstemmed | A National Survey Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students Pursuing Careers in Neurosurgery |
| title_short | A National Survey Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students Pursuing Careers in Neurosurgery |
| title_sort | national survey evaluating the impact of the covid 19 pandemic on students pursuing careers in neurosurgery |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemics education, medical, graduate students, medical neurosurgery internship and residency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4087/2/4/23 |
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