Mentoring Medical Students: The Implementation of a Career Pathways Advising Program at One Institution

Authors

  • Maura Sullivan
  • Donna Elliott
  • Joel Schechter
  • Erin Quinn
  • Michael Cousineau
  • Steven Kim
  • Brett White
  • Julie Nyquist
  • Clive Taylor

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26209/mj1261428

Abstract

Background

In 2005, the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California launched a Career Advising Pathways Program. The goals of the program were to assist students to identify career preferences earlier, provide early experiences in an area of interest, and facilitate a mentoring relationship between students and faculty.

Description

Three distinct pathways were developed: academic medicine, clinical specialist, and community health. Students participated in required activities for their selected pathway, including two required seminars during the first and second years and a minimum of eight weeks of elective during year four.

Evaluation

Focus groups with students (N=40) revealed that students found the program to be successful in heightening their awareness and getting them to start thinking about specialty choices earlier. All students felt that they would benefit from the clinical specialist pathway and that some of the seminars could be more focused.

Conclusion

As with any curricular change, evaluation and revision are important. Based on the feedback that we received from the students, we were able to create and implement a restructured program to better suit the needs of our learners.

Author Biographies

Maura Sullivan

Maura Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, is the associate chair for Educational Affairs, Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. She can be reached at msullivan@surgery.usc.edu.

Donna Elliott

Donna Elliott, M.D., Ed.D., is the associate dean for Student Affairs, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. She can be reached at delliott@usc.edu.

Joel Schechter

Joel Schechter, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Educational Affairs, Keck School of Medicine, and is assistant dean for Student Affairs, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. He can be reached at schechte@usc.edu.

Erin Quinn

Erin Quinn, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Educational Affairs, Keck School of Medicine, and is associate dean for Admissions, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. She can be reached at erinquin@usc.edu.

Michael Cousineau

Michael Cousineau, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, and associate professor of Research, Departments of Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. He can be reached at cousinea@usc.edu.

Steven Kim

Steven Kim, M.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, and assistant professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. He can be reached at myungski@usc.edu.

Brett White

Brett White, M.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, and is medical director, Gabriel Park Family Health Center, Oregon Health and Science University.

Julie Nyquist

Julie Nyquist, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Educational Affairs, Keck School of Medicine, and is a professor of Medical Education, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. She can be reached at nyquist@usc.edu.

Clive Taylor

Clive Taylor, M.D., Ph.D., is the senior associate dean for Educational Affairs Emeritus, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. He can be reached at cltaylor@usc.edu.

References

Basco, W. T., & Reigart, J. R. (2001). When do medical students identify career-influencing physician role models? Academic Medicine, 76(4), 380-2.

Griffith, C. H., Georgesen, J. C., & Wilson, J. F. (2000). Specialty choices of students who actually have choices: The influence of excellent clinical teachers. Academic Medicine, 75(3), 278-82.

Kirkham, J. C., Widmann, W. D., & Leddy, D. (2006). Medical student entry into general surgery increases with early exposure to surgery and to surgeons. Current Surgery, 63(6), 397–400.

Mutha, S., Takayama, J. I., & O'Neil, E. H. (1997). Insights into medical students' career choices based on third- and fourth-year students' focus-group discussions. Academic Medicine, 72(7), 635–40.

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Issue

Vol. 12 (2010): The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal

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Articles

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