Is Medical Student Interest in Cardiothoracic Surgery Maintained After Receiving Scholarship Awards?

Background: Medical student exposure to cardiothoracic surgery has been facilitated by many scholarship opportunities. This study reviews the long-term interest of students at our institution who have received such support.

Methods: After the first or second year of medical school, participants were selected to receive scholarships for clinical or research activities in cardiothoracic surgery ranging from 4 to 8 weeks in duration. These were funded by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, or a private family donor. Over time, each student's scholarship type, current interest in cardiothoracic surgery, and current education or career status was prospectively monitored in an institutional database.

Results: Since 1999, 45 students received scholarships. Eight (18%) were funded by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, two (4%) by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons one (2%) by the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, and 34 (76%) by private donors. The median follow-up of graduated students is 7 years. Of the 20 (44%) with an active current interest in cardiothoracic surgery, 2 are faculty, 1 is a fellow, 1 is in an integrated 6-year program, 11 are in general surgery residency and are planning to apply to cardiothoracic surgery fellowship, and the remaining 5 are in medical school and planning a cardiothoracic surgery career. Of all former medical students who received cardiothoracic surgery research scholarships and who have now made a career choice, 17.4% chose cardiothoracic surgery.

Conclusions: More than one-third of medical students who received scholarships in cardiothoracic surgery maintained their interest over time, and more than half maintained interest in a surgical field. Although long-term data are scarce, it remains critical to foster mentoring relationships with students over time to guide their career choices.