Vascular Surgery Curriculum for Medical Students: A National Targeted Needs Assessment.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• No standardized curriculum recommendations exist from major surgical societies for medical students in vascular surgery.
• A targeted needs assessment was conducted to evaluate the necessity of a structured curriculum for these students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the need for a standardized vascular surgery curriculum for medical students.
• To identify essential topics and desired experiences for medical student rotations in vascular surgery.

Main Methods:

• A survey was developed with input from students, surgeons, and educators.
• The needs assessment targeted program directors and educators identified via FREIDA.
• Data collected included existing curricula, need for standardization, desired experiences, and key topics.

Main Results:

• A 34.2% response rate yielded 50 valid responses, predominantly from academic institutions.
• Only 61% had an approved curriculum, and 77.1% had stated goals and objectives.
• 63% agreed on the need for a standardized curriculum, ranking peripheral arterial disease, aortic disease, and carotid disease highest; simulation was a desired addition.

Conclusions:

• A clear lack of structured curricula and a strong desire for standardization were identified.
• Key topics and experiences were highlighted as crucial for medical student education in vascular surgery.
• Developing a standardized curriculum can significantly enhance the learning experience for students rotating in vascular surgery.