Abstract
BackgroundStudent Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) chapters across the medical schools in the United States provide opportunities for medical students to participate in clinical, research, and service activities in neurology. Despite these, applicants for the field of neurology have traditionally been low.MethodsFollowing changes were introduced: an open board style SIGN chapter executive committee with greater active engagement of first and second year students. New activities included journal clubs, hands on workshops, celebration/cause events (example ALS walk). In addition, a free neurology clinic was introduced. Activities were planned in consultation with office of medical education, and were organized during ‘down times’. Data on student enrollment, activities successfully carried out, students interested in neurology residency, number of neurology-related research projects with student involvement were collected prior to changes and compared to values after changes were introduced.ResultsPost intervention, student engagement in neurology activities and projects increased significantly. However, a similar increase in applications to neurology residency was not yet observed.ConclusionsAn open chapter with early engagement and involvement of first and second year medical students, creating a variety of chapter activities with greater hands on involvement, planned in conjunction with office of medical education has reinvigorated our SIGN chapter.
Highlights
Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) chapters across the medical schools in the United States provide opportunities for medical students to participate in clinical, research, and service activities in neurology
It was emphasized that integrating basic science and clinical neuroscience is the key to curing ‘neurophobia.’ Exposure to clinical aspects and the latest treatments in neurology outside the regular medical school curriculum should help students better understand neurology, and make them more likely to consider a career in the field
There was a significant increase in students involved in research and students interested in neurology
Summary
Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) chapters across the medical schools in the United States provide opportunities for medical students to participate in clinical, research, and service activities in neurology. Ralph Jozefowicz defined the term ‘neurophobia’ as a fear of the neural sciences and clinical neurology that is due to the students’ inability to apply their knowledge of basic sciences to clinical situations [2]. This is often used to explain medical students’ poor understanding and interest in neurology. The students, faculty, and staff working together made efforts to revitalize their local SIGN chapter With these changes, we aimed to increase interest in the field of neurology and the number of students applying for neurology residency
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