Opportunities for Increasing Diversity in Orthopaedics Through Virtual Mentorship Programs.

Orthopaedic surgery lags in recruiting women and under-represented minorities (URMs). In addition, women and URMs hold fewer leadership roles across orthopaedic subspecialties. This inequity is geographically heterogeneous, with female URM residents and attendings being more concentrated in some areas of the country. For instance, practicing female orthopaedic surgeons are more prevalent in Northeast and Pacific programs. Mentorship and representation in leadership positions play a notable role in trainee recruitment. Video communication platforms offer a novel mechanism to reach historically under-represented students across the country. We reviewed five established mentorship programs focused on women and URMs. Each program emphasized a longitudinal relationship between mentors and mentees. In reviewing these programs, we sought to identify the successful components of each program. Leveraging and integrating effective components already established by conventional mentorship programs into virtual programming will aid in optimizing those programs and improve geographic equity in access to mentorship resources. It is critical to extend the principles of successful mentorship programs to technology-enabled programs moving forward.

Leveraging social media for mentorship in surgery.

Mentorship is a key component of success in surgery that benefits both mentors and mentees. It is associated with increased academic productivity, funding, leadership roles, job retention, and career advancement. Until recently, mentor-mentee dyads have connected through traditional communication channels; however, in an increasingly virtual world, academic communities are adopting new communication methods, including over social media platforms. In recent years, we have witnessed how social media helps effect positive change by facilitating patient and public health initiatives, social movements and campaigns, and professional pursuits. Given its ability to transcend constraints of geography, hierarchy, and time, social media can benefit mentorship, too. Social media helps strengthen preexisting mentorships, identify new mentorship opportunities locally and remotely, and facilitates modern mentorship models, such as team mentorship. Furthermore, it increases the durability of mentor-mentee relationships and helps expand and diversify mentorship networks, which may especially benefit females and those underrepresented in medicine. Despite the many advantages of social media, it is not a replacement for traditional local mentorship. Herein, we discuss the benefits and risks of using social media for mentorship and propose approaches to optimize the virtual mentorship experience. With best practice guidelines that aim to balance virtual and in-person interactions and provide tailored education to all mentorship levels, we believe mentors and mentees will become more adept in using social media professionally, and these platforms will help foster meaningful connections that ensure mutual fulfillment.

Mentoring on Orthopedic Surgery Clinical Rotations: A Survey of Mentor Effectiveness on Student Mentees Compared to an Unmentored Control Group.

INTRODUCTION: Mentorship is an important aspect of medical education in providing students guidance and connections to new opportunities, ultimately leading to increased productivity and career satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to design and implement a formal mentoring program between medical students participating in their orthopedic surgery rotation and orthopedic residents to determine if this relationship improved students' experiences during their rotation compared to students who were not mentored. DESIGN: Third- and fourth-year medical students rotating in orthopedic surgery and PGY2-PGY5 orthopedic residents at one institution were eligible to participate in a voluntary mentoring program between the months of July and February during 2016 to 2019. Students were either randomly paired with a resident mentor (experimental group) or not (unmentored control group). Anonymous surveys were distributed to participants at weeks 1 and 4 of their rotation. There were no minimum number of meetings required between mentors and mentees. RESULTS: Twenty-seven students (18 mentored, 9 unmentored) and 12 residents completed surveys during week 1. Fifteen students (11 mentored, 4 unmentored) and 8 residents completed surveys during week 4. While both mentored and unmentored students experienced an increase in enjoyment, satisfaction, and level of comfort at week 4 compared to week 1, the unmentored group demonstrated a greater overall increase. However, from the perspective of the residents, excitement for the mentoring program and the perceived value of mentoring decreased and 1 (12.5%) resident felt that it detracted from their clinical responsibilities. CONCLUSION: While formal mentoring enhanced the experience of medical students on orthopedic surgery rotations, it did not substantially improve medical student perceptions when compared to students who did not receive formal mentoring. The greater satisfaction and enjoyment observed in the unmentored group may be explained by informal mentoring that naturally occurs among students and residents with similar interests and goals.

Surgery Acting Internship Individual Learning Plans: Fostering Mentorship in the COVID-19 Era.

OBJECTIVE: Mentorship facilitates successful matching for surgical specialties. A formal mentorship plan may counteract restricted mentorship opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: We surveyed medical students applying to surgery specialties who participated in our formalized mentorship program (MF) and those of a prior cohort who were informally mentored (MI). Epistemic Network Analysis was used to model qualitative responses. SETTING: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. PARTICIPANTS: Fourth-year medical students who matched into ACGME-accredited surgical specialties. RESULTS: MF students (n = 12) met with their mentors more frequently than MI students (n = 13; p = 0.03). Both groups received career guidance, letters of recommendation and application preparation. However, the MI cohort reported greater psychological and emotional support whereas the MF cohort reported more assistance with skills development. CONCLUSIONS: A formalized mentorship program fostered successful mentoring relationships despite limitations from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resultados del grupo científico estudiantil Formación e investigación en apoyo vital en emergencias y desastres / Results of a student scientific group for Training and Research in Vital Support for Emergencies and Disasters

Introducción: El desarrollo de grupos científicos estudiantiles en las universidades es una necesidad en función de nuevos conocimientos y una formación más integral. Objetivo: Describir los principales resultados del grupo científico estudiantil Formación e investigación en apoyo vital en emergencias y desastres en sus primeros tres años de trabajo. Métodos: Investigación descriptiva, prospectiva, desarrollada en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Cienfuegos entre 2017 y 2019. El universo estuvo conformado por todos los estudiantes (25) y profesores tutores (6) que integraban el grupo. Como técnicas se emplearon la revisión documental, la tormenta de ideas y el grupo focal. Resultados: El plan de formación investigativa anual fue diferenciado por año académico y necesidades. Se impartieron temas escalonadamente complejos sobre metodología de la investigación y otros afines a la carrera. En cada año se cumplieron las tareas propuestas. Los estudiantes desarrollaron 29 investigaciones (13,8 por ciento publicadas y 48,3 por ciento premiadas), que se presentaron en tres fórums estudiantiles y otros 12 eventos. La producción científica creció progresivamente tanto en cantidad como en calidad. Conclusiones: Los resultados del grupo científico estudiantil fueron positivos. El diseño de un programa de capacitación extracurricular, modular y de participación colectiva sobre metodología de la investigación y temas médicos afines al proyecto de los tutores facilitaron la adquisición de habilidades investigativas de los estudiantes, y la obtención de buenos indicadores de actividad científica, con excepción del número de publicaciones(AU)

Introduction: The development of student scientific groups in universities is a need in terms of new knowledge and a more comprehensive training. Objective: To describe the main results of a student scientific group for training and research in vital support for emergencies and disasters in its first three years of work. Methods: Descriptive and prospective research carried out at the University of Medical Sciences of Cienfuegos between 2017 and 2019. The universe consisted of all students (25) and tutor teachers (6) who were part of the group. Documental review, brainstorming and focus group were used as techniques. Results: The annual research training plan was differentiated by academic year and needs. Complex topics on research methodology and others related to the major were taught in stages. In each year, the proposed tasks were completed. The students developed 29 research projects (13.8 percent were published and 48.3 percent received awards), presented during three student scientific meetings and twelve other events. Scientific production grew progressively both in quantity and quality. Conclusions: The results of the student scientific group are positive. The design of an extracurricular, modular and collective participation training program on research methodology and medical topics related to the tutors' project facilitated the acquisition of students' research skills and the achievement of good indicators of scientific activity, with the exception of the number of publications(AU)

Formal Mentorship as an Opportunity to Expand the Urology Pipeline: Under Represented Trainees Entering Residency (UReTER) Program Evaluation 2020-2021.

OBJECTIVE: To rank percentages of underrepresented residents in surgical subspecialties and understand the experience of mentees and mentors who participated in the inaugural University of California, San Francisco Urology UnderRepresented Trainees Entering Residency (UReTER) Mentorship Program for Black, Indigenous, and/or LatinX medical students applying into urology. METHODS: Medical student mentees across the country were recruited via social media and email listservs. Demographic information and photos of mentors were presented on the UReTER website. Medical students could choose a mentor, and once matched, both parties were notified. A survey was emailed to all participants on Urology Match Day 2021. RESULT: The 2018 -2019 ACGME Databook showed underrepresented minority residents made up 7.6% of urology residents, lagging behind neurosurgery, vascular surgery, general surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. 71 mentees and 101 mentors volunteered for the UReTER Mentorship Program (71 mentor-mentee couplets). Overall response rate was 51% [33 mentors and 32 mentees]. Of mentees who completed the survey, 16 (47%) participated in the 2021 Urology Match; 15 (94%) matched and 6 (38%) felt that UReTER helped them match. CONCLUSION: Feedback on this pilot program was very positive including a high match rate among those who participated. Future changes to the program include expanded student outreach, increased structure, broadened mentor network. The implementation of a low-cost program to increase underrepresented applicants into Urology has great potential to increase representation and improve the field. This program can and should be replicated in all subspecialties.

Caracterización del tutor como figura central en la formación del médico general integral / Characterization of the tutor as a key actor in the training of the family medicine physician

Introducción: La educación y la práctica médica constituyen un par dialéctico, del cual emerge el tutor como figura protagónica de los procesos formativos, con conocimientos, habilidades y experiencia para guiar al educando hacia su desarrollo integral. Objetivo: Caracterizar la preparación del tutor en el proceso de formación del residente de Medicina General Integral en el municipio Habana Vieja durante enero-junio de 2019. Métodos: Se realizó una investigación pedagógica en el área del posgrado, de tipo descriptivo. El universo y la muestra estuvieron constituidos por 75 médicos que ejercían la tutoría de formación en residentes de la especialidad de Medicina General Integral. Se aplicaron métodos teóricos y empíricos. Para obtener la información, se efectuó un análisis documental y se aplicó una encuesta, previo consentimiento informado. Resultados: El 42,7 por ciento de los tutores poseía experiencia como tutor y se encontraba en la agrupación entre 1-3 años; el 54,7 por ciento tenía entre 5-10 años como especialistas. La mayor representación (65,3 por ciento) no ostentaba categoría docente ni científica. La maestría de educación médica superior fue la actividad formativa de mayor representación (15,9 por ciento). El 86,6 por ciento refirió no formar parte de investigaciones; y el 53,3 por ciento, no haber participado en eventos científicos. Solo el 24 por ciento de tutores puntualizó haber realizado publicaciones en revistas de alto impacto. Conclusiones: Existen insuficiencias en la preparación del tutor, por lo que se hace necesario implementar estrategias, como la creación de la comisión de trabajo tutorial a nivel del departamento docente(AU)

Introduction: Medical education and practice make up a dialectical pair, from which tutors emerge as leading actors of training processes, with knowledge, skills and experience to guide learners towards their comprehensive development. Objective: To characterize tutor training in the process of formation of the Family Medicine resident in La Habana Vieja Municipality in the period from January to June 2019. Methods: A descriptive pedagogical research was carried out in the postgraduate area. The universe and the sample consisted of 75 physicians who provided tutorship for training Family Medicine residents. Theoretical and empirical methods were applied. To obtain the information, a documental analysis was carried out and a survey was applied, with prior informed consent. Results: 42.7 percent of the participants had experience as tutors and were in the group between one and three years, while 54.7 percent had been specialists for five to ten years. The highest representation group (65.3 percent) did not hold a teaching or scientific rank. The master's degree in higher medical education was the training activity with the highest representation (15.9 percent). 86.6 percent expressed that they were not carrying out any research, while 53.3 percent have not participated in scientific events. Only 24 percent of the tutors specified that they have published in high-impact journals. Conclusions: There are shortcomings in tutor training, a reason why it is necessary to implement strategies, such as the creation of a tutorial work commission at the level of the teaching department(AU)

Strengthening the Mentorship and Leadership Capacity of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Researchers in South Africa.

Programs to increase emerging and established HIV and tuberculosis (TB) researchers' capacity to be more effective leaders and mentors are urgently needed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Although conceptual frameworks of mentoring and mentoring toolkits have been developed by and for researchers in LMIC settings, few mentor training programs have been implemented and evaluated in these settings. We created, implemented, and evaluated a 9-month, certificate-level mentorship training program to strengthen the pipeline of HIV and TB researchers in South Africa. Differentiating features of the program included careful contextualization of mentorship tools and approaches, inclusion of a leadership curriculum to improve participant ability to work effectively in teams and organizations, and attention to processes that promote interinstitutional collaboration in mentorship. Twelve mid-career researchers graduated from the first cohort of the program. Among participants, we observed significant longitudinal improvement in mentorship competencies, increased numbers of network connections in multiple domains of collaboration, and high levels of satisfaction. We anticipate that the program description and results will be useful to researchers, research institutions, and funders seeking to build research mentorship and leadership capacity in LMIC settings.

Profesionalización docente del tutor en el primer nivel de atención / Teaching Professionalization of the Tutor in the First Level of Healthcare

Introducción: La docencia universitaria reviste gran complejidad. En la carrera de Medicina el proceso formativo es dirigido a la enseñanza de competencias profesionales y a la adquisición de valores necesarios para el perfil de salida del profesional de la salud. Se propuso como objetivo caracterizar la profesionalización docente del tutor en el proceso de formación del médico general durante el año 2018. Métodos: Se realizó estudio descriptivo transversal sobre los tutores de pregrado del Municipio de Sagua la Grande. Se encuestaron 13 especialistas en Medicina General Integral y 12 residentes de 2do año. Variables: categoría profesional y docente, grado académico, experiencia como tutor, años de graduado como especialista, tiempo desarrollado como tutor y participación en actividades metodológicas. Resultados: De los 25 consultorios acreditados para la docencia en pregrado, 13 fueron cubiertos por especialista de primer grado en Medicina General Integral y 12 por residentes de 2do año, solo 5 especialistas categorizados. El 61,54 por ciento mostró más de 5 años de experiencia en la asistencia y la docencia, pero con poca preparación metodológica. Conclusiones: En Sagua, la tutoría en pregrado recayó en residentes y especialistas de primer grado en Medicina General Integral, la mayoría sin categoría docente. La preparación profesional, profesoral e investigativa del claustro fue insuficiente. Se evidenció la responsabilidad de la dirección de las unidades docentes asistenciales en garantizar que los consultorios acreditados para la docencia sean cubiertos por residentes en formación o especialistas de Medicina General Integral con categoría docente, como garantía de la calidad del proceso formativo(AU)

Introduction: University teaching is characterized by its high complexity. In the medical major, the training process is aimed at teaching professional skills and acquiring the values necessary for the working profile of the health professional. Objective: To characterize the teaching professionalization of the tutor in the general practitioner´s training process during 2018. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out about undergraduate tutors from Sagua la Grande Municipality. Thirteen specialists in Family Medicine and twelve second-year residents were surveyed. The variables studied were professional and teaching category, academic degree, tutor experience, years of graduate as a specialist, time spent as a tutor, and participation in methodological activities. Results: Of the 25 family medical offices accredited for undergraduate teaching, thirteen were attended by a first-degree specialist in Family Medicine and 12 were under second-year residents; of which there were only five categorized specialists. 61.54 percent showed more than five years of experience in care and teaching, but with little methodological preparation. Conclusions: In Sagua, undergraduate tutoring corresponded to first-degree residents and specialists in Family Medicine, the majority without teaching category. The professional, teaching and research training of the faculty was insufficient. The responsibility of the management of the teaching care units was evidenced in guaranteeing that the accredited teaching family medical offices are run by residents in training or specialists in Family Medicine with teaching category, as a guarantee of the quality of the training process(AU)

Scientific production of nutrition courses in food and nutrition in collective health: contributions to the debate on professional performance

This study aims to analyze the scientific production of Nutrition courses on knowledge core Food and Nutrition in Collective Health (FNCH) and its associations with institutional characteristics and advisor's academic degree. A bibliometric study was performed on 195 final projects of five nutrition courses in Rio Grande do Nortestate (Brazil) from the year 2013. Information related to higher education institutions and academic degree of advisor were collected. From the reading of sections of final projects, screening was performed on final project involvement with knowledge core FNCH, being collected general methodological characteristics, classification on sub cores of FNCH, and theme approached. Pearson's chi-square test was used with a significance level at p-value ≤ 0.05 and 95% confidence interval in a univariate and bivariate way.From the total of analyzed final projects, 54 (27.7%) were related to knowledge core FNCH, prevailing final projects with a quantitative approach (61%), presented as scientific articles (57%), and performed in public services (45%). There was an emphasis on the sub-core of Nutritional Epidemiology (63%) [p < 0.001], with the theme Nutritional Assessment (57%) [p < 0.001]. There was no significant association between FNCH final projectsproportion and institutional characteristics or advisor's academic degree. Thinking about nutritionists' practice, limitations were identified on FNCH scientific production, with an emphasis on nutritional diagnosis researches, with less involvement in public health policies and human and social sciences.

Structuring Mentoring in Medicine and Surgery. A Systematic Scoping Review of Mentoring Programs Between 2000 and 2019.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence of novice mentoring's successes in having senior clinicians support junior doctors and/or medical students in their clinical, academic, and research goals has spurred efforts to include mentoring in the core medical curriculum. However, lack of effective structuring threatens the viability of mentoring programs, precipitating ethical concerns about mentoring. This review aims to answer the question "what is known about mentoring structures in novice mentoring among medical students and junior doctors in medicine and surgery postings?," which will guide the design of a consistent structure to novice mentoring. METHODS: Levac (2010)'s framework was used to guide this systematic scoping review of mentoring programs in medicine and surgery published between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2019 in PubMed, ScienceDirect, ERIC, Embase, Scopus, Mednar, and OpenGrey. A "split approach" involving concurrent independent use of a directed content analysis and thematic approach was used to analyze included articles. RESULTS: Three thousand three hundred ninety-five abstracts were identified. There was concordance between the 3 themes and categories identified in analyzing the 71 included articles. These were the host organization, mentoring stages, and evaluations. CONCLUSION: The data reveal the need for balance between ensuring consistency and flexibility to meet the individual needs of stakeholders throughout the stages of the mentoring process. The Generic Mentoring Framework provides a structured approach to "balancing" flexibility and consistency in mentoring processes. The Generic Mentoring Framework is reliant upon appropriate, holistic, and longitudinal assessments of the mentoring process to guide adaptations to mentoring processes and ensure effective support and oversight of the program.

Mentored training and its association with dissemination and implementation research output: a quasi-experimental evaluation.

BACKGROUND: There is a continued need to evaluate training programs in dissemination and implementation (D&I) research. Scientific products yielded from trainees are an important and objective measure to understand the capacity growth within the D&I field. This study evaluates our mentored training program in terms of scientific productivity among applicants. METHODS: Post-doctoral and early-career cancer researchers were recruited and applied to the R25 Mentored Training for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer (MT-DIRC) between 2014 and 2017. Using application details and publicly available bibliometric and funding data, we compared selected fellows with unsuccessful applicants (nonfellows). We extracted Scopus citations and US federal grant funding records for all applicants (N = 102). Funding and publication abstracts were de-identified and coded for D&I focus and aggregated to the applicant level for analysis. Logistic regression models were explored separately for the odds of (1) a D&I publication and (2) US federal grant funding post year of application among fellows (N = 55) and nonfellows (N = 47). Additional models were constructed to include independent variables that attenuated the program's association by 5% or more. Only US-based applicants (N = 87) were included in the grant funding analysis. RESULTS: Fellows and nonfellows were similar across several demographic characteristics. Fellows were more than 3 times more likely than nonfellows to have grant funding after MT-DIRC application year (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.1-11.0) while controlling for time since application year; the association estimate was 3.1 (95% CI 0.98-11.0) after adjusting for both cancer research area and previous grant funding. For publications, fellows were almost 4 times more likely to publish D&I-focused work adjusting for time (OR 3.8; 95% CI 1.7-9.0). This association lessened after adjusting for previous D&I publication and years since undergraduate degree (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.2-7.5). CONCLUSIONS: We document the association of a mentored training approach with built-in networks of peers to yield productive D&I researchers. Future evaluation efforts could be expanded to include other forms of longer-term productivity such as policy or practice change as additional objective measures. D&I research trainings in the USA and internationally should consider common evaluation measures.

Deliberaciones éticas ante investigaciones en el área de educación: a propósito de un caso / Ethical deliberations about research in the area of education: about a case

Un equipo investigador liderado por el primer autor de este artículo propuso traducir al español, adaptar transculturalmente y validar un cuestionario para evaluar la competencia de quienes ejercen mentoría en investigación. Dado que no se trataba de una investigación clínica, en un principio, el equipo investigador le restó importancia a la deliberación ética, asumiendo que este tipo de investigación podría estar exceptuada de ser evaluada por un Comité Independiente de Ética. Sin embargo, luego de revisar la bibliografía especializada y de varias sesiones de discusión con expertos en ética de la investigación, la opinión del equipo fue cambiando. Este artículo pretende compartir esta experiencia deliberativa con todo equipo involucrado en investigaciones en educación. (AU)

A research team led by the first author of this article proposed to translate into Spanish, adapt cross-culturally and validate a questionnaire to assess the competence of those who do research mentoring. Since it was not a clinical investigation, initially, the research team downplayed ethical deliberation, assuming that this type of research could be exempted from being evaluated by an Independent Ethics Committee. However, after reviewing the specialized literature and several discussion sessions with experts in research ethics, the opinion of the team changed. This article aims to share this deliberative experience with any team involved in education research. (AU)

Are surgeons behind the scientific eight ball: Delayed acquisition of the NIH K08 mentored career development award.

BACKGROUND: Surgery residents complete their research training early in residency. Non-surgical trainees typically have research incorporated toward the last two years of their fellowship, conferring an advantage to apply for grants with recent research experience and preliminary data. METHODS: The NIH RePORTER database was queried for K08 awardees trained in medicine, pediatrics, and surgery from 2013 to 2017. 406 K08 recipients were identified and time from completion of clinical training to achieving a K08 award was measured. Data were compared using ANOVA and expressed as mean. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Surgeons took longer to obtain a K08 than those trained in internal medicine (surgery = 3.7 years, internal medicine = 2.58 years p < 0.0001)). All K08 recipients without a PhD took longer to obtain a K08 than recipients with a PhD (MD = 3.50 years and MD/PhD = 2.42 years (p=<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons take longer to achieve a K08 award than clinicians trained in internal medicine, possibly due to an inherent disadvantage in training structure.