A Retrospective Observation of Medical Students Matching into Neurology Residencies Following a Change to Clerkship Curriculum (P11-2.004)

Abstract

<h3>Objective:</h3> To retrospectively observe the proportion of the graduating medical school class pursuing residency training in neurology following a transition of the neurology clerkship to the third year of medical school. <h3>Background:</h3> Neurology is a rapidly growing field, resulting in adaptations in education over the years. In medical schools, there has been a trend to shift neurology clerkship rotations from fourth-year to third-year curriculums which has resulted in improved academic performance and higher enthusiasm for the field of neurology. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> A retrospective observational study evaluating enrolled clerkship medical students at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and the match rates into adult and child neurology specialties from 2001–2021. The students were divided into two groups involving those enrolled in clerkship when neurology was during the fourth-year curriculum (2001–2012) and students enrolled in clerkship when neurology was during the third-year curriculum (2013–2021). <h3>Results:</h3> Among the 3,093 students observed during 2001–2021, 59 students (1.9%) matched into adult neurology residencies and 15 students (0.48%) matched into child neurology residencies. There was a higher rate of students matching into both adult and child neurology specialties when neurology clerkship had transitioned to the third-year curriculum (37 students at 2.5% for adult; 11 students at 0.67% for child; <i>p</i> = 0.02) compared to the fourth-year curriculum (22 students at 1.4% for adult; 4 students at 0.28% for child; <i>p</i> = 0.11). <h3>Conclusions:</h3> There was a statistically significant observation of medical students matching into adult neurology residencies after the transition of neurology clerkship to the third-year curriculum. The match into child neurology was not statistically significant and likely due to an overall low events number. This data suggests earlier exposure to neurology can lead to a higher likelihood of students matching into neurology for residency training. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Gill has nothing to disclose. Dr. Garg has nothing to disclose. Dr. Raedy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pardieck has nothing to disclose.