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The Impact of Infectious Diseases Scholarly Mentorship on Subsequent Infectious Disease Fellowship Application
Joseph E Marcus1,2, Heather C Yun1,2, Alice E Barsoumian1,2
1Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, USA.
Introduction:
Infectious diseases physicians invest significant time mentoring medical students and internal medicine residents through research projects as well as case reports. Although having an infectious diseases mentor has been shown to be associated with subsequent infectious diseases fellowship application, the impact of specific scholarly activities on future application to infectious diseases fellowship is unknown.
Methods:
All research and case reports published or presented from Brooke Army Medical Center between 2014 and 2022 with an infectious diseases senior author and a medical student or internal medicine resident first author were evaluated. The presentations and publications that resulted from each project as well as whether the trainee applied to infectious diseases were recorded.
Results:
During the study period, 16 faculty mentored 35 medical student and resident research projects and 26 case reports. Research and case reports were primarily performed by residents (88% and 96%, respectively). Compared to case reports, research projects were more likely to be presented at national meetings (77% vs 32%, P = .0009). Of the 55 projects performed by trainees who completed training, research was associated with greater rates of infectious disease fellowship application as compared to case reports (41% vs 4%, P = .0012).
Conclusions:
Internal medicine resident and medical student involvement in research mentored by an infectious disease physician was associated with a greater infectious diseases fellowship application rate as compared to those who were mentored for case reports. Investment in trainee research may be a strategy for recruiting the next generation of infectious diseases physicians.
Insights
Medical students and residents involved in research with infectious diseases mentors were more likely to apply for infectious diseases fellowship compared to those involved in case reports. This suggests trainee research is key for recruiting future infectious diseases physicians.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Infectious Diseases Research
- Physician Training
Background:
- Infectious diseases (ID) physicians mentor trainees in research and case reports.
- Mentorship is linked to ID fellowship applications, but the impact of specific scholarly activities is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if specific scholarly activities, like research or case reports, influence medical student and resident application rates to infectious diseases fellowship.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of research projects and case reports mentored by ID physicians at Brooke Army Medical Center (2014-2022).
- Data collected included project type, presentations, publications, and trainee fellowship application status.
Main Results:
- Research projects were more frequently presented nationally than case reports (77% vs. 32%).
- Trainees involved in research had significantly higher infectious diseases fellowship application rates (41%) compared to those involved in case reports (4%).
Conclusions:
- Involvement in research, mentored by infectious disease physicians, is associated with higher fellowship application rates.
- Investing in trainee research may be an effective strategy to recruit future infectious diseases physicians.
