Perceptions and the Impact of Early Mentorship of Medical Students in Neurosurgery: A Qualitative Study

To explore how early exposure influences Canadian medical students' perceptions of neurosurgery and identify strategies to promote equitable interest and access to neurosurgical careers.

A qualitative, multi-institutional study using focus groups, grounded in thematic analysis.

Three Canadian medical schools: Laval University, McGill University, and the University of Toronto.

Six medical students from the participating institutions, representing diverse stages of training and backgrounds, participated in a semi-structured, virtual focus group interview.

Three key themes emerged: the role of early exposure to neurosurgery, the impact of gender-related barriers, and the limitations of the current undergraduate medical curricula. Students with early exposure to neurosurgery, through research, mentorship, or clinical shadowing, demonstrated increased interest in the field, greater willingness to pursue neurosurgical electives, and a more nuanced understanding of the specialty. Those without such exposure often held misconceptions about neurosurgery, particularly regarding lifestyle, neurosurgeon personalities, and working conditions. As a result, they tended to miss elective opportunities and felt at a disadvantage when interest in the field developed later. Female participants, in particular, highlighted concerns about work-life balance, family planning, and underrepresentation, which negatively influenced their interest in the field. Across institutions, students described minimal structured exposure to neurosurgery in the preclerkship and clerkship curricula. Suggestions for improvement included earlier and more accessible electives, increased visibility of diverse mentors, funding for research and conference participation, and formal mentorship opportunities to help challenge misconceptions about the field.

This is the first multi-institutional qualitative study exploring Canadian medical student perceptions of neurosurgery. Early exposure plays a critical role in shaping interest and reducing misconceptions about the field. Addressing curricular gaps, supporting mentorship, and improving accessibility, especially for underrepresented groups, may help create a more inclusive and informed pathway into neurosurgical careers. These findings support targeted reforms in undergraduate medical education to promote equitable engagement with neurosurgery.