Retrospective study of medical student scholarship and career trajectory following a mentored preclinical cardiovascular summer research fellowship

OBJECTIVES: Developing a preclinical training infrastructure for cardiovascular clinician-scientists is an academic workforce priority. The Cardiovascular Research Institute of Vermont developed a cardiovascular summer research fellowship (SRF), wherein medical student awardees were selected by merit-based application and completed mentored research between the first and second years. We aimed to study the impact of the SRF on medical student scholarship and career planning. DESIGN: Retrospective survey study. SETTING: Single academic medical centre. PARTICIPANTS: All SRF participants from 2015 to 2020. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Prior SRF participants were surveyed to ascertain current position, research engagement and perspectives regarding SRF experience. Comparisons to American Association of Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaire data from equivalent years were made using χ(2) tests. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 87% (20/23), 55% were women. Median time from SRF completion was 2 years (IQR 0.75–2.25), with 75% still enrolled in medical school and 25% in residency. As a result of the first-year summer programme, 45% published a peer-reviewed abstract or manuscript, which was equivalent to the national rate for graduating students (53%, p=0.4). Most respondents (80%) were active in additional research projects during school separate from the SRF, 90% anticipated a career involving research (vs 53% nationally, p<0.001) and 75% planned to pursue a career in cardiovascular medicine. CONCLUSION: Medical students completing a mentored cardiovascular SRF after their first year have a high rate of academic scholarship, with publication rate already equivalent to national peer graduates. Preclinical SRF students strongly anticipate cardiovascular medicine and research careers.