The Positive Impacts of Mentored Summer Research Programs on Veterinary Student Career Outcomes

Summer veterinary research scholars programs (VRSPs) provide valuable hands-on mentored research experience to pre-clinical veterinary students with exposure to various career options. In response to ongoing funding challenges, we aimed to document program impact on participants' careers. We hypothesized that a higher proportion of VRSP participants would pursue a graduate degree, internship, residency, and peer-reviewed publication than non-participants. Veterinarians who graduated in 2000-2024 from Kansas State University, Mississippi State University, the University of Missouri, or the University of Wisconsin completed an online survey. We analyzed quantitative data using logistic regression, including VRSP participation, school, and their interaction as fixed effects. We coded and themed open-ended responses. The study enrolled 1614 alumni (385 VRSP, 1,229 non-VRSP). Participation in VRSPs was associated with increased odds of MS (odds ratio [OR] 3.2, 95% CI = 1.7-5.8, p = .0002), PhD (OR = 9.9, CI = 4.3-22.9, p < .0001), internship (OR = 2.3, CI = 1.7-3.2, p < .0001), residency (OR = 3.7, CI = 2.6-5.3, p < .0001), and peer-review publication (OR = 7.9, CI = 5.7-11.0, p < .0001). The likelihood of pursuing a career in academia (OR = 3.0, CI = 1.8-4.8, p < .0001) was also associated with participation in a VRSP. Qualitative results included five main themes related to how VRSP was significant to participants' careers: Influential, Catalytic, Pivotal, Valuable, and Possible. Early exposure to hands-on mentored research through VRSP successfully impacts alumni careers, contributing to the education and advancement of veterinary researchers. Favorable outcome measures from this study support advocacy to justify renewed federal funding for VRSPs as well as ongoing support from academia and industry.