Medical students’ perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery: A Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Nationwide SurveyCentral MessagePerspective

Objective: The study objective was to explore medical students' perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery in the United States. Methods: A voluntary, anonymous electronic survey was distributed to medical students through the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association. The survey in...

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Main Authors: Carlos E. Diaz-Castrillon, MD, Cynthia Rangel, MS, John A. Treffalls, BS, Kristian Punu, BS, Naima Alver, MD, Lena Trager, MD, Ravi K. Ghanta, MD, Victor O. Morell, MD, Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:JTCVS Open
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666273624002523
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author Carlos E. Diaz-Castrillon, MD
Cynthia Rangel, MS
John A. Treffalls, BS
Kristian Punu, BS
Naima Alver, MD
Lena Trager, MD
Ravi K. Ghanta, MD
Victor O. Morell, MD
Ibrahim Sultan, MD
author_facet Carlos E. Diaz-Castrillon, MD
Cynthia Rangel, MS
John A. Treffalls, BS
Kristian Punu, BS
Naima Alver, MD
Lena Trager, MD
Ravi K. Ghanta, MD
Victor O. Morell, MD
Ibrahim Sultan, MD
author_sort Carlos E. Diaz-Castrillon, MD
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The study objective was to explore medical students' perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery in the United States. Methods: A voluntary, anonymous electronic survey was distributed to medical students through the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association. The survey included 28 questions across 4 domains: demographic information, current mentorship status, goals and qualities sought in mentorship, and self-reported barriers to mentorship. Results: There were 60 respondents to the survey. A total of 60% identified themselves as male and 35% as White. A total of 75% of students reported having reached out to potential mentors without receiving a response. Lack of access to a cardiothoracic surgery program/mentorship program (37%) or cardiothoracic surgery interest group at one's institution (42%) was the most frequent barrier to mentorship. Overall, 32% reported not having any mentors in cardiothoracic surgery. Students without mentors were more likely to report the lack of cardiothoracic surgery interest groups (53% vs 29%, P = .04). Female students were more likely to prefer a female mentor (48% vs 3%; P < .001). Female and non-White students reported the lack of a relatable mentor more frequently than counterparts. Empathy and commitment/attentiveness emerged as highly valued, with 54% (n = 32) rating them as “most important.” Conclusions: There is a critical need to optimize the outreach of current mentorship programs for medical students, especially for those without access to cardiothoracic surgery departments. National organizations such as the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association can advocate for increased mentorship accessibility and the development of structured mentorship programs. Additionally, efforts should be made to attract more surgeons to serve as mentors and emphasize proactive engagement from students.
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spelling doaj-art-95f6bd89e5d44d949e727176e2522d632025-08-20T02:37:53ZengElsevierJTCVS Open2666-27362024-12-012236237610.1016/j.xjon.2024.09.004Medical students’ perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery: A Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Nationwide SurveyCentral MessagePerspectiveCarlos E. Diaz-Castrillon, MD0Cynthia Rangel, MS1John A. Treffalls, BS2Kristian Punu, BS3Naima Alver, MD4Lena Trager, MD5Ravi K. Ghanta, MD6Victor O. Morell, MD7Ibrahim Sultan, MD8Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PaArkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Smith, ArkLong School of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TexArkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Smith, ArkDepartment of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WashDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, NYU Langone, New York, NYDivision of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TexDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PaDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa; Address for reprints: Ibrahim Sultan, MD, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA 15232.Objective: The study objective was to explore medical students' perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery in the United States. Methods: A voluntary, anonymous electronic survey was distributed to medical students through the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association. The survey included 28 questions across 4 domains: demographic information, current mentorship status, goals and qualities sought in mentorship, and self-reported barriers to mentorship. Results: There were 60 respondents to the survey. A total of 60% identified themselves as male and 35% as White. A total of 75% of students reported having reached out to potential mentors without receiving a response. Lack of access to a cardiothoracic surgery program/mentorship program (37%) or cardiothoracic surgery interest group at one's institution (42%) was the most frequent barrier to mentorship. Overall, 32% reported not having any mentors in cardiothoracic surgery. Students without mentors were more likely to report the lack of cardiothoracic surgery interest groups (53% vs 29%, P = .04). Female students were more likely to prefer a female mentor (48% vs 3%; P < .001). Female and non-White students reported the lack of a relatable mentor more frequently than counterparts. Empathy and commitment/attentiveness emerged as highly valued, with 54% (n = 32) rating them as “most important.” Conclusions: There is a critical need to optimize the outreach of current mentorship programs for medical students, especially for those without access to cardiothoracic surgery departments. National organizations such as the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association can advocate for increased mentorship accessibility and the development of structured mentorship programs. Additionally, efforts should be made to attract more surgeons to serve as mentors and emphasize proactive engagement from students.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666273624002523cardiothoracic surgeryeducationmedical studentsmentorshipsurvey
spellingShingle Carlos E. Diaz-Castrillon, MD
Cynthia Rangel, MS
John A. Treffalls, BS
Kristian Punu, BS
Naima Alver, MD
Lena Trager, MD
Ravi K. Ghanta, MD
Victor O. Morell, MD
Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Medical students’ perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery: A Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Nationwide SurveyCentral MessagePerspective
JTCVS Open
cardiothoracic surgery
education
medical students
mentorship
survey
title Medical students’ perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery: A Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Nationwide SurveyCentral MessagePerspective
title_full Medical students’ perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery: A Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Nationwide SurveyCentral MessagePerspective
title_fullStr Medical students’ perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery: A Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Nationwide SurveyCentral MessagePerspective
title_full_unstemmed Medical students’ perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery: A Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Nationwide SurveyCentral MessagePerspective
title_short Medical students’ perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery: A Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Nationwide SurveyCentral MessagePerspective
title_sort medical students perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery a thoracic surgery medical student association nationwide surveycentral messageperspective
topic cardiothoracic surgery
education
medical students
mentorship
survey
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666273624002523
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