Impacts of a University Research Assistant Program: The First Decade

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Research Training
• Physician-Scientist Pipeline

Background:

• Declining numbers of physician-scientists pose a challenge to medical research.
• Limited understanding of how university student research experiences impact future researchers.
• Need to explore novel educational programs to bolster the research pipeline.

Purpose of the Study:

• Describe the University Research Assistant Program (URAP).
• Report on the program's outcomes over its first decade.
• Assess the program's impact on student career trajectories and research contributions.

Main Methods:

• Detailed description of URAP course content, research activities, and student demographics.
• Analysis of URAP student contributions to scientific literature and presentations.
• Survey of URAP alumni regarding program influence on career choices.

Main Results:

• URAP evolved from an independent study to a for-credit course, engaging 212 students.
• 77% of surveyed graduates felt URAP prepared them for career goals.
• Graduates predominantly entered healthcare fields: 55% to medical school, 29% to Master's, 5% to PhD programs.
• URAP students contributed to 11 pediatric subspecialties, with many achieving co-authorships and 53 first-authored abstract presentations.

Conclusions:

• URAP significantly impacts university students, guiding them toward healthcare professions.
• Students in URAP made substantial research contributions during their enrollment.
• The program's long-term effect on fostering future physician-scientists requires further investigation.