Radiation Oncology Medical Student Formal Research Mentorship: Update on the Medical Student Summer Research Program

Abstract

The Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP) at our institution provides the opportunity for medical students to conduct 7-10 weeks of supported research between their first and second years in medical school. Interested students submit a research proposal in collaboration with a faculty mentor. The program includes sessions on responsible conduct of research, critical thinking, and presentation skills. Herein we report research output based on total publications and presentations from students who have participated in the MSSRP with a radiation oncology faculty mentor, as well as their future career choice. Since 2005, radiation oncology faculty have mentored 16 medical students on a variety of projects in the MSSRP. Data were collected on the total number of unique publications (manuscript or abstract) authored by these 16 students, number of publications with a student as the first author versus co-author, and for the 10 students who have graduated, what their residency choice was. Among the 16 students, 37 unique abstracts and 22 unique manuscripts have been presented or published, which represents a mean of 2.31 abstracts per student and 1.38 manuscripts per student, respectively. Of the 37 abstracts, 18 (48.6%) had a student as the first author, while out of the 22 manuscripts, 7 (31.8%) had a student as the first author. Furthermore, 27 abstracts had one student author, while 10 abstracts had two student authors. Sixteen manuscripts had one student author, while 6 had two student authors. None of the abstracts or manuscripts had three or more student authors. For abstracts, the distribution of co-authorships is as follows: 18 first authors, 9 second, 5 third, 5 fourth, 9 fifth, and 1 sixth. For manuscripts, the distribution of co-authorships is as follows: 7 first authors, 3 second, 10 third, 3 fourth, 2 fifth, 1 sixth, and 2 seventh. A total of 6 abstracts were selected for oral presentation at national conferences. Among the ten students who have graduated, 3 (30%) chose to pursue careers in radiation oncology, and the remaining students include 2 current medical oncology fellows, 2 internal medicine residents, 1 radiology resident, 1 dermatology resident, and 1 attending neurologist. Radiation oncology research mentorship via the MSSRP, a formal, funded summer program, has allowed for successful student research. Participation in the MSSRP is beneficial in promoting research skills that lead to future publications in the form of abstracts, oral presentations, and manuscripts. Radiation oncology faculty mentorship is productive for students entering both radiation oncology and non-radiation oncology residencies.