Lessons learned from the ASN Renal Educator Listserv and survey

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Nephrology Training
• Physician Workforce

Background:

• Nephrology is an unpopular career choice among US medical students.
• The American Society of Nephrology Workforce Committee aims to address this decline.
• Preclerkship kidney pathophysiology courses may influence career decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey US medical school course directors about preclinical kidney physiology and pathophysiology teaching.
• To identify effective teaching methods and barriers to teaching in nephrology.
• To inform strategies for increasing interest in nephrology careers.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was administered to preclinical kidney course directors via the American Society of Nephrology Renal Educators Listserv.
• Course directors were queried on teaching methods, curriculum, resources, and institutional support.
• Data were collected from 62 of 114 (54.4%) surveyed medical schools.

Main Results:

• Videotaping lectures decreased attendance; audience response systems and virtual microscopy were valued.
• Limited institutional support was noted, with 50% of respondents receiving no remuneration.
• Course directors identified case scenarios and preclinical clinical exposure as interest-generating methods.

Conclusions:

• Current preclinical teaching methods may inadvertently discourage nephrology careers.
• Valuable teaching tools include audience response systems, virtual microscopy, and flash animations.
• Integrating clinical exposure and case scenarios could stimulate medical student interest in nephrology.