Factors associated with infectious diseases fellowship academic success.

BACKGROUND: A multitude of factors are considered in an infectious disease (ID) training program's meticulous selection process of ID fellows but their correlation to pre and in-fellowship academic success as well as post-fellowship academic success and short-term outcomes is poorly understood. Our goal was to investigate factors associated with subsequent academic success in fellowship as well as post-fellowship short-term outcomes. METHODS: In 2022, we retrospectively analyzed deidentified academic records from 39 graduates of the Mayo Clinic Rochester ID Fellowship Program (1 July 2013- 30 June 2022). Data abstracted included demographics, degrees, honor society membership, visa/citizenship status, medical school, residency training program, United States Medical Licensure Exam (USMLE) scores, letters of recommendation, in-training examination (ITE) scores, fellowship track, academic rank, career choice, number of honors, awards, and abstracts/publications prior to fellowship, during training, and within 2 years of graduation. RESULTS: Younger fellows had higher USMLE step 1 scores, pre and in-fellowship scholarly productivity, and higher ITE performance. Female fellows had significantly higher USMLE step 3 scores. Prior research experience translated to greater in-fellowship scholarly productivity. Higher USMLE scores were associated with higher ID ITE performance during multiple years of fellowship, but USMLE step 2 clinical knowledge and 3 scores were associated with higher pre and in-fellowship scholarly productivity and receiving an award during fellowship. The USMLE step 1 score did not correlate with fellowship performance beyond year 1 and 2 ITE scores. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple aspects of a prospective fellow's application must be considered as part of a holistic review process for fellowship selection. USMLE step 2 CK and 3 scores may predict fellowship performance across multiple domains.

Development of "Explore Plastic Surgery": An Educational Program for Medical Students Without Home Residency Programs.

BACKGROUND: Medical students who attend institutions without plastic surgery residency programs are at a disadvantage in the plastic surgery match. We developed an educational program for medical students without home programs called Explore Plastic Surgery to provide an overview of the steps toward a career in plastic surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact, utility, and success of the novel program. METHODS: Pre- and postevent surveys were distributed to participants. Survey data were analyzed including participant demographics, perceptions of barriers unique to those without home programs, and the overall event utility. RESULTS: Two hundred seventeen students registered for the program. Ninety-five participants completed the pre-event survey (44%), and of those, 57 participants completed the post-event survey (60%). There was an increase in understanding of the steps toward a career in plastic surgery ( P < 0.001), confidence in overcoming barriers ( P = 0.005), and level of comfort in reaching out to faculty for opportunities ( P = 0.01). There was a decrease in the perceived negative impact that attending medical schools without a home program will have on their abilities to pursue careers in plastic surgery ( P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: After the event, participants demonstrated an increase in their confidence in overcoming barriers and a decrease in their perceptions that attending an institution without a home program would negatively impact their ability to pursue plastic surgery. Initiatives focused on early exposure and recruitment of medical students may be important to promote accessibility and diversity within plastic surgery.

Erratum: Exploring Communication about Fall Risk and Prevention between Internal Medicine Residents and Geriatric Patients: A Needs Assessment: Erratum.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001652.].

Contribution of ethical reasoning learning sessions on medical training.

INTRODUCTION: Ethical reasoning is an important skill for all physicians who often face complex ethical dilemmas in their daily practice. Therefore, medical training should include methods for learning ethical theories and concepts, as well as how to apply them in practical situations. AIM: Assess the contribution of an Ethical Reasoning Learning session to fifth medical students' training through a comparison of results of the same objective and structured clinical examination (OSCE) in the form of simulated interview before and after sessions. METHODS: Four 45- minutes' sessions of Ethical Reasoning Learning (ERL) were implemented during a psychiatry internship for four groups of 5th-year students of the faculty of medicine of Monastir (Tunisia). Each session was divided into 7 parts: introduction, reading of a clinical vignette, brainstorming concerning the problems posed by this clinical situation, classification of the problems, identification of the principles of medical ethics, construction of the ethical matrix, and a conclusion. RESULTS: Fifty-seven students participated in the study divided into 4 groups. We found a significant difference in the means of the OSCE scores before and after the ERL session and a significant difference between the probability of respecting medical secrecy during pre and post-ethical reasoning learning sessions (p <0.001). We have found an effect of ERL sessions on the acquisition of this ethical competence by medical students. CONCLUSION: We learned that an ERL session has improved medical training in ethics applied to psychiatry. Other sessions dealing with other ethical skills are necessary to confirm these results.

Is it time to reduce the length of postgraduate training for physician-scientists in internal medicine?

Physician-scientists play a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge and patient care, yet the long periods of time required to complete training may impede expansion of this workforce. We examined the relationship between postgraduate training and time to receipt of NIH or Veterans Affairs career development awards (CDAs) for physician-scientists in internal medicine. Data from NIH RePORTER were analyzed for internal medicine residency graduates who received specific CDAs (K08, K23, K99, or IK2) in 2022. Additionally, information on degrees and training duration was collected. Internal medicine residency graduates constituted 19% of K awardees and 28% of IK2 awardees. Of MD-PhD internal medicine-trained graduates who received a K award, 92% received a K08 award; of MD-only graduates who received a K award, a majority received a K23 award. The median time from medical school graduation to CDA was 9.6 years for K awardees and 10.2 years for IK2 awardees. The time from medical school graduation to K or IK2 award was shorter for US MD-PhD graduates than US MD-only graduates. We propose that the time from medical school graduation to receipt of CDAs must be shortened to accelerate training and retention of physician-scientists.

Radiation Oncology Training in the Philippines: Bridging Gaps for Improved Cancer Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

PURPOSE: Radiation oncology in the Philippines, a large lower- and middle-income country in Southeast Asia, is facing a critical shortage in manpower, with only 113 radiation oncologists (ROs) over 55 radiotherapy (RT) centers serving 100 million population. Paramount to workforce expansion is ensuring that training programs can produce adequately trained specialists. In this study, we describe the current state of radiation oncology training programs in the Philippines. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional observational analysis of the nine radiation oncology residency training programs in the Philippines. Data were collected from a survey of the program directors, the Philippine Radiation Oncology Society database, and a PubMed literature search. RESULTS: Eight of the nine programs are in the National Capital Region. Since program standardization in 2005, there have been 82 four-year residency graduates, with up to 18 new graduates annually. Faculty-to-trainee ratio ranges from 0.5 to 2.67. In terms of technology, all programs have intensity-modulated RT and high-dose-rate brachytherapy, but only six are equipped with computed tomography-based image guidance and stereotactic capabilities. Clinical education schemes vary per institution regarding curriculum implementation, resident activities, and methods of evaluation. Required resident case logs are not met for lung, GI, genitourinary, bone and soft tissue, and hematologic malignancies. In total, there are only 22 resident-led publications from 10 unique individuals in two training programs. CONCLUSION: Program expansions are warranted to meet the projected demand for ROs in the Philippines, but training programs must first improve key aspects of staffing, technology, clinical education, and research. Addressing training challenges related to resource limitations necessitates local and international collaborations with higher-capacity centers to bridge gaps for continued quality improvement with the aim of ultimately delivering better overall cancer care.

ResearchConnect.info: An Interactive Web-Based Platform for Building Academic Collaborations.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Radiology is a rapidly evolving field that benefits from continuous innovation and research participation among trainees. Traditional methods for involving residents in research are often inefficient and limited, usually due to the absence of a standardized approach to identifying available research projects. A centralized online platform can enhance networking and offer equal opportunities for all residents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Research Connect is an online platform built with PHP, SQL, and JavaScript. Features include project and collaboration listing as well as advertisement of project openings to medical/undergraduate students, residents, and fellows. The automated system maintains project data and sends notifications for new research opportunities when they meet user preference criteria. Both pre- and post-launch surveys were used to assess the platform's efficacy. RESULTS: Before the introduction of Research Connect, 69% of respondents used informal conversations as their primary method of discovering research opportunities. One year after its launch, Research Connect had 141 active users, comprising 63 residents and 41 faculty members, along with 85 projects encompassing various radiology subspecialties. The platform received a median satisfaction rating of 4 on a 1-5 scale, with 54% of users successfully locating projects of interest through the platform. CONCLUSION: Research Connect addresses the need for a standardized method and centralized platform with active research projects and is designed for scalability. Feedback suggests it has increased the visibility and accessibility of radiology research, promoting greater trainee involvement and academic collaboration.

Moving Beyond Hemangioma: Interactive, Multidisciplinary, Case-Based Teaching in Vascular Anomalies for Pediatric Residents.

Introduction: Vascular anomalies are a spectrum of disorders, including vascular tumors and malformations, that often require multispecialty care. The rarity and variety of these lesions make diagnosis, treatment, and management challenging. Despite the recognition of the medical complexity and morbidity associated with vascular anomalies, there is a general lack of education on the subject for pediatric primary care and subspecialty providers. A needs assessment and the lack of an available standardized teaching tool presented an opportunity to create an educational workshop for pediatric trainees using the POGIL (process-oriented guided inquiry learning) framework. Methods: We developed a 2-hour workshop consisting of an introductory didactic followed by small- and large-group collaboration and case-based discussion. The resource included customizable content for learning assessment and evaluation. Residents completed pre- and posttest assessments of content and provided written evaluations of the teaching session. Results: Thirty-four learners in pediatrics participated in the workshop. Session evaluations were positive, with Likert responses of 4.6-4.8 out of 5 on all items. Pre- and posttest comparisons of four content questions showed no overall statistically significant changes in correct response rates. Learners indicated plans to use the clinical content in their practice and particularly appreciated the interactive teaching forum and the comprehensive overview of vascular anomalies. Discussion: Vascular anomalies are complex, potentially morbid, and often lifelong conditions; multispecialty collaboration is key to providing comprehensive care for affected patients. This customizable resource offers a framework for trainees in pediatrics to appropriately recognize, evaluate, and refer patients with vascular anomalies.

A Virtual Communication Workshop to Increase Confidence Using Telehealth Modalities.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 ended in-person communication training workshops at our institution, so we sought to provide a way for family medicine residents to hone their telephone and audio-visual skills online. METHODS: We developed a 2-hour online workshop where residents practiced delivering serious news to family members via telephone or videoconferencing call and measured participant confidence via pre-, post-, and 6-month surveys. RESULTS: Participant confidence in delivering serious news via telephone and videoconferencing increased. Sustained confidence at 6-month follow-up was not confirmed. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Offering an online opportunity to practice delivering serious news by telephone or videoconferencing call appears to be a successful way to bolster confidence. Participants found using realistic scenarios and discussion of best practices most helpful.

Strengthening healthcare through family medicine training in The Gambia: The journey so far.

According to the World Health Organizations (WHO) family medicine forms the bedrock upon for accessible, affordable and equitable healthcare for any country. The need for family doctors is more acute for low income countries like The Gambia. More so that The Gambian health infrastructure is suboptimal and appropriate health personnel is low. This is worsened by brain drain leading to poor health indices. Despite these challenges and more, the department of Family Medicine was accredited for training in the Gambia with improved infrastructure (at the training centre), with 7 residents. Though there are still challenges there are also opportunities and strengths. There is therefore hope that the right personnel will be produced for an improved Gambian health system.

Improving healthcare delivery at a district hospital through teaching interns - A short report.

Every district in Malawi has at least two doctors managing the social and healthcare needs of the local population. The medical doctors at the district are involved in administrative work and have minimal time for clinical practice. As such in most district hospitals, clinical officers (COs) form the backbone of patient care provision. These are cadres that have a 3-year training in clinical medicine; they work side by side with medical assistants (MAs) and nurses. Apart from the Ministry of Health (MoH) workforce, the Department of Family Medicine (FM) of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) has its main district site at Mangochi. Family physicians and residents from FM department assist in provision of mentorship and teaching to other cadres. Work-based learning requires various strategies and approaches. The experience reported here involves deliberate mentorship and support to enhance the learning of other cadres. Family medicine residents learn through the active participation in these sessions to become future consultants and leaders in primary health care.

Don't wait for the perfect moment: The national training program in family medicine in Angola.

Like many Sub-Saharan countries, Angola struggles with a shortage of trained health professionals, especially for primary care. In 2021, the Angolan Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Angolan Medical Council launched the National Program for the Expansion of Family Medicine as a long-term strategy for the provision, fixation and training of family physicians in community health centres. Of the 425 residents 411 (96.7%) who entered the programme in 2021 will get their diplomas in the following months and will be certified as family physicians. Three main aspects make this National Programme unique in the Angolan context: (1) the common effort and engagement of the Ministry of Health with the Angolan Medical Council and local health authorities in designing and implementing this programme; (2) decentralisation of the training sites, with residents in all 18 provinces, including in rural areas and (3) using community health centres as the main site of practice and training. Despite this undeniable success, many educational improvements must be made, such as expanding the use of new educational resources, methodologies and assessment tools, so that aspects related to knowledge, practical skills and professional attitudes can be better assessed. Moreover, the programme must invest in faculty development courses aiming to create the next generation of preceptors, so that all residents can have in every rotation one preceptor or tutor responsible for the supervision of their clinical activities, case discussions and sharing their clinical duties, both at community health centres and municipal hospitals.

The exceptional potential in extending primary care exposure for South African medical interns.

No abstract available.

How We Do It: Surgery IMPACT - Integrated Mentorship Program for Advancing Clinical Training.

OBJECTIVE: Effective mentorship plays a crucial role in the professional development of surgical residents by providing guidance, support, networking, and facilitating personal, and career growth. This is particularly significant for female and underrepresented minority residents who often encounter additional challenges due to discrimination and historical lack of representation. Our objective is to present a framework for structuring a progressive and inclusive formal mentorship program- Surgery IMPACT- which embodies a panoramic perspective of surgery residency. DESIGN: A holistic mentorship program was created through the conceptualization of WISE Domains (Work-Life Balance, Interpersonal and cultural proficiency, Scholarly and career advancement, Effective learning and study techniques). Mentor-Mentee partnerships were created between current surgical faculty and general surgery residents. The foundation of the program is built upon four essential mentor roles: Core faculty mentor, research mentor, fellowship mentor, alongside a concurrent incorporation of peer mentorship. Over the academic year, we encouraged at least 3 formal mentorship meeting prefaced by a reflective exercise by the residents. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of Surgery IMPACT has been successful in formalizing mentorship opportunities at our institution. By incorporating WISE domains, structured meeting centered on well-defined objectives, we have effectively created an all-inclusive mentorship program to foster resident growth and equal opportunities. Our ongoing commitment is to further refine and expand this innovative program with the aspiration of galvanizing similar mentorship models across diverse surgical programs.

Assessing the Knowledge and Comfort Level of US Family Medicine Residents Regarding Consenting and Confidentiality in Adolescent Health Care.

OBJECTIVES: Organizations recommend providing confidential adolescent health care to reduce the consequences of high-risk health behaviors such as substance use, unhealthy eating patterns, and high-risk sexual behaviors. Family physicians are uniquely positioned to provide confidential counseling and care to this vulnerable population but must be trained to provide such care. This study describes the impact of formal and informal training on the knowledge of and comfort level in providing confidential adolescent healthcare among a sample of US Family Medicine residents. METHODS: Electronic surveys were distributed to all Family Medicine residents throughout the United States. We used descriptive statistics and χ2 analysis where appropriate to determine the association between resident-reported receipt of training, confidence, and frequency in providing confidential adolescent health care. RESULTS: A total of 714 Family Medicine residents completed the survey. The majority reported no formal training in residency (50.3%). The receipt of formal and informal training in both medical school and residency was associated with a greater degree of comfort in providing confidential adolescent care and a higher likelihood of providing confidential time alone. Those reporting formal training were more likely to always provide confidential care (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Training focused on confidential adolescent health care in medical school or residency was associated with a greater degree of comfort and a higher likelihood of providing confidential adolescent health care.

Social media trends in obstetrics and gynecology residency programs on Instagram and X (Twitter).

BACKGROUND: During the COVID pandemic, residency program's social media presence increased to aid in residency recruitment by attempting to increase engagement and readily available information for applicants across specialties. However, little information exists on what characteristics and content on obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residency program accounts attract more followers or engagement. OBJECTIVES: To identify social media trends in OBGYN residencies and determine which aspects of programs influence the number of followers and interaction with content posted. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of ACGME accredited OBGYN programs and determined their presence on Instagram and X in the fall of 2021. Content from the thirty programs with the most followers was analyzed independently by two authors. Multivariate analysis and a linear mixed model were used to characterize and evaluate content on Instagram and X. RESULTS: Most programs utilized Instagram (88.5%, N = 262/296) and were managed solely by residents (84.4%, N = 108/128). Number of followers on Instagram positively correlated with features such as program size, Instagram profile duration, and Doximity rankings (p < 0.0x01). Programs on X had more followers if their profile had a longer duration, followed more individuals, or were ranked higher on Doximity. The most posted Instagram content was biographical and social in nature. Instagram posts with the highest engagement were awards and/or the Match. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding what social media content attracts more followers and increases engagement is crucial as it likely impacts OBGYN resident recruitment. Professional groups should establish guidelines for social media use in recruitment for the protection of both residents and applicants.