The Clinical Anatomy Fellowship: Revolutionizing curricular experiences for faculty and students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• The impact of Clinical Anatomy Fellowships on participants is known, but their effect on faculty, staff, and students has not been evaluated.
• Existing literature highlights the positive outcomes for fellows in such programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the perceptions of faculty, staff, and students regarding the Clinical Anatomy Fellowship program.
• To determine the benefits and drawbacks of the fellowship from the perspective of those interacting with fellows.
• To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the fellowship program in comparison to traditional faculty hiring.

Main Methods:

• A survey-based study utilizing Likert scale, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions was administered.
• Faculty, staff, and students interfacing with fellows were surveyed to gather their perceptions.
• Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the significance of the findings.

Main Results:

• 95% of faculty and staff found fellows beneficial, citing their roles as mentors and contributors to education, and noting reduced faculty workload (p < 0.05).
• 97% of students perceived interactions with fellows as beneficial (p < 0.05).
• Key motivators for the fellowship included a passion for anatomy and residency competitiveness, while deterrents involved curriculum time and delayed clinical experience.

Conclusions:

• The Clinical Anatomy Fellowship positively impacts students, faculty, and the university by enhancing educational processes and providing mentorship.
• The program demonstrates significant cost savings, with an annual net saving of $370,000 compared to hiring associate-level faculty.
• Institutions should consider adopting similar fellowship models to improve educational experiences and achieve financial efficiencies.