Abstract: SA-PO198
Keeping It Renal: Grassroots Effort to Increase Local Interest in Nephrology
Session Information
- Educational Research
October 27, 2018 | Location: Exhibit Hall, San Diego Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Educational Research
- 800 Educational Research
Authors
- Waheed, Sana, University Of Wisconsin School Of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- Sozio, Stephen M., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Singh, Tripti, University Of Wisconsin School Of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- Maursetter, Laura J., University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Background
National efforts have been made to increase medical student interest in nephrology through ASN sponsored programs like TREKS and STARS. Our goal was to create a local effort at University of Wisconsin (UW) to publicize nephrology as a career option for medical students to improve recruitment to nephrology.
Methods
As a result of curricular tranformation at UW in 2016, renal pathophysiology was taught during the first months of medical school with students learning about complex renal diseases early in their career with a more hands-on, case-based approach. This early exposure provided the opportunity to create a forum where students with an interest in nephrology could come together with nephrology faculty and explore the options of the field. As a result, the students created the nephrology interest group (N-IG). We describe the early experience of this, and analyze trends in involvement in nephrology-related activities.
Results
The N-IG hosts three events during the year:
1. Discussing different career trajectories in nephrology by faculty in various roles,
2. “Night with Nephrology”, which was a jeopardy style game with a combination of trivia and nephrology questions and
3. Discussing interesting cases in nephrology with faculty to apply pathophysiology to patient care.
By highlighting the cognitively stimulating and diverse nature of nephrology, we were able to increase the number of students spending dedicated time in nephrology related activities, most of them showing a statistically signifcant trend by year (Figure 1)
Conclusion
At our institution, a student led nephrology interest group was effective in increasing recruitment to nephrology related experiences. Similar interest groups can be created at other institutions by early nephrology involvement in the medical school curriculum, harnessing the energy of enthusiastic students, and utilizing support of nephrology faculty. Long-term follow up will determine if this involvement is fruitful for recruitment into the field.