The West Coast Plastic Surgery Mentorship Program: Successes, Failures, and Future Growth

Students who are underrepresented in medicine experience limited access to mentorship throughout medical school and when applying to plastic surgery residency. This study describes the creation, growth, and results of the multi-institutional West Coast Plastic Surgery Mentorship Program (WCPSMP), specifically reflecting on barriers to implementation and room for future improvement.

Students were eligible to apply to the plastic surgery mentorship program if they were first-, second-, or third-year medical students in a US medical school interested in plastic surgery. Preference was given to students who are (1) underrepresented-in-medicine racial/ethnic minorities; (2) first generation, low income; (3) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer; and/or (4) without a home integrated plastic surgery program. Preprogram and postprogram surveys were analyzed.

The 2021-2022 cycle of the WCPSMP included 30 resident mentors and 30 resident mentees, with a 1:1 mentor-to-mentee relationship. The second annual Mentor-Mentee Day was hosted on June 25, 2022, in San Diego, California, with attendance from 18 mentees. There was a 63% response rate in the presurvey and postsurvey. Most students endorsed gaining didactic skills, technical skills, and networking, but only a few gained research opportunities.

The WCPSMP is a promising venue to offer underrepresented medical students valuable resident mentorship, as well as acquire surgical knowledge and skills. Further development of the program includes implementing a curriculum for residents on how to be an effective mentor and offering more research opportunities.