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Implementing SMART Goals in a Radiology Research Mentorship Program: A Single-Institution Pilot Study
Syed Ibrahim1, Thanh-Lan Bui1, Sungmee Park1
1Irvine Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California, Orange, CA, USA.
Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Implementing Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound (SMART) Goals in radiology research mentorship boosted trainees' scholarly output and confidence. This structured approach enhanced motivation and research planning for improved outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Radiology Research
- Mentorship Programs
Background:
- Radiology trainees often lack research experience and confidence.
- Structured goal setting, like SMART Goals, can improve research productivity.
- This study assessed SMART Goals within a radiology research mentorship program.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of implementing SMART Goals on radiology trainees' research engagement.
- To measure changes in trainees' confidence in research domains.
- To explore qualitative feedback on the structured goal-setting process.
Main Methods:
- Medical students and radiology residents participated in a mentorship program using SMART Goal worksheets.
- Mentors and trainees met to refine objectives and create action plans.
- Scholarly output was compared descriptively; confidence was assessed via pre- and post-intervention surveys.
Main Results:
- Participants showed increased scholarly engagement, with credits for 45 abstracts, 30 publications, and 7 grants.
- Confidence significantly improved across all research domains, including goal setting and study design (p ≤ 0.01).
- Qualitative feedback highlighted enhanced organization, accountability, and mentor communication.
Conclusions:
- SMART Goal setting integrated into mentorship programs enhances radiology trainees' scholarly engagement and research confidence.
- This strategy supports research skill development, mentorship alignment, and trainee motivation.
- Further multicenter evaluations are recommended to assess long-term outcomes.
