Vascular Surgery Curriculum for Medical Students: A National Targeted Needs Assessment.

Background: At present, neither the American College of Surgeons (ACS) nor the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) provides curriculum recommendations for medical students rotating on a vascular surgery service. We sent a targeted needs assessment to vascular surgeons across the country in order to investigate the need for a structured curriculum for medical students participating in a vascular surgery rotation during their clinical clerkships.

Methods: The survey was developed with input from medical students, vascular surgeons, and medical educators. Respondents were identified from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA). The needs assessment was sent to program directors of vascular residencies and fellowships and to other vascular surgery educators. The survey collected data regarding the existing vascular surgery curriculum at the respondent's institution, the need for a standardized curriculum, desired experiences for medical students, and important vascular topics for medical students to cover while on rotation.

Results: Responses were obtained from 50 of the 146 surveyed individuals (response rate = 34.2%). 48 respondents (96%) worked in an academic hospital or academic affiliated hospital. With regard to the existing vascular surgery curriculum, only 28 respondents (61%) indicated that they had a curriculum approved by the surgery clerkship director. 37 respondents (77.1%) said there were at least goals and objectives for students on the vascular surgery service, and 29 respondents (60.4%) indicated that there was dedicated time for didactic sessions. Only 17 respondents (35.4%) indicated students gave a case presentation on the service. 29 respondents (63%) agreed or strongly agreed that there should be a standardized vascular curriculum for medical students. When asked to rank 9 topics from most important to least important for students to learn, respondents ranked peripheral arterial disease, aortic disease, and carotid disease highest. Simulation experience was most frequently indicated as a desired addition to the curriculum, and only 16 respondents (33.3%) reported opportunities for vascular surgery specific simulation experiences.

Conclusions: This study identified the lack of an existing structured curriculum for medical students, the desire for a standardized curriculum, and key topics and experiences that are felt to be important for students to cover.  With this information in hand, vascular educators have the potential to enhance the learning experience of medical students rotating through the service by developing a standardized curriculum.