Enabling Exploration: Examining the Availability and Adequacy of Conference Funding for Medical Students

Due to limited funding available for students to attend conferences, we performed a comprehensive review of publicly provided information regarding medical school funding for academic conferences and surveyed medical students to assess accessibility and adequacy of funding.

The admissions website of all schools associated with American Association of Medical Colleges and American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (220 programs) was reviewed to collect funding information. A REDCap survey was administered to students who registered for the annual Plastic Surgery the Meeting 2023 conference.

A total of 132 medicals schools (60%) had information regarding funding, and 125 (95%) reported that they provided funding for conference attendance. The average number of times that a student could receive funding during their 4 years was 4.1, and the average funding per year was $479. There was no difference in the 4-year total funding between public and private schools ($1924 versus $1992; P = 0.88) or between allopathic and osteopathic schools ($1946 versus $2185; P = 0.76). If the student had no supporting funding source, their average personal contribution was $738.

Given that there is already a large financial burden on students applying to competitive specialties from application and away rotation costs, it is important to identify areas where further support is needed. This study demonstrates the inadequacy of funding available for medical students to attend academic conferences. Providing funding for students to complete research will create more equitable access to competitive specialties such as plastic surgery.