10. The Medical Student Race to Research: Who Presents More at National Plastic Surgery Conferences?

Abstract

Background: Plastic surgery is among the most competitive specialties with applicant academic productivity rising. We aim to determine predictors of increased plastic surgery abstract presentation by medical students, identifying disparities in research opportunities. Methods: Abstracts presented at the two most recent meetings for ASPS (2019, 2020), AAPS (2019, 2021), and PSRC (2019, 2021) were identified online. Presenters without MD’s or other professional credentials were classified as medical students. Abstracts with internationally affiliated presenters were excluded. Genders were determined using Gendorize.io. Medical schools were determined through Google and categorized by US News Research rankings. Home plastic surgery division/department NIH fundings were calculated by summing all rewards for full-time faculty on NIH RePORTER. Research fellowship completion was suspected if affiliate institution and school differed and confirmed through Google. Number of total and first author publications and h-indices, calculated from Scopus and PubMed, were recorded. Students who ≥3 (>75th percentile) or less were compared by chi-squared tests. Univariate and multivariable regressions were used to identify factors associated with ≥ 3 presentations. Results: Of 1,576 abstracts, 549 (34.8%) were presented by 314 students. About half of students were female (53.5%) and most were from the Northeast (36.9%). Over 3 years, 61.8% of students presented once, while 14.6% presented ≥ 3 times. Those who previously presented, completed a research fellowship, published more, or had higher H-indices were likely to present more (p ≤ 0.007). On multivariable-adjusted analysis, completing research fellowships (OR=2.34, p=0.045), affiliation with institutions with more plastic surgery NIH funding (OR=3.73, p=0.004), and having more total (OR=3.81, p=0.018) or first author (OR=3.84, p=0.008) publications were associated with increased presentation. Gender, region, school ranking, having a home program, and h-indices, were not significant predictors. Conclusion: Medical students who previously presented at national plastic surgery meetings, completed research fellowships, have more publications, and attend schools with more plastic surgery NIH funding are more likely to present. With just under 15% of students presenting ≥3 times, determining factors that differentiate presentation chances for medical students is important for identifying ways to address and improve disparities students face in entering plastic surgery.