Faculty Collaboration Database

Mini-medical school programs are an effective tool to introduce students to osteopathic medicine. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2014 Feb;114(2):109-12

Date

02/01/2014

Pubmed ID

24481803

DOI

10.7556/jaoa.2014.024

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84893377634 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   16 Citations

Abstract

CONTEXT: Mini-medical school programs are designed to give participants, usually high school students, a more realistic perception of medicine and to leave students with a stronger desire to pursue a career in medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the annual High School Mini-Medical School program hosted by the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine increased interest in osteopathic medicine among high school students.

DESIGN: A survey was conducted before and after the program to test the program's effectiveness.

SETTING: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine's Clinical Education Center.

PARTICIPANTS: High school students from Charleston, Fairmont, and the Greenbrier Valley in West Virginia.

INTERVENTIONS: The participants attended an outreach program designed to interest them in a career in medicine and specifically osteopathic medicine.

RESULTS: Sixty-nine participants came away with an improved understanding of a physician's life and medical school after the program. There was a mean increase in positive responses for the survey items "I understand what medical school life is truly like" (P=.0066) and "I understand what life as a doctor is really like" (P=.0004). PARTICIPANTS left the program with a stronger desire to pursue a career in medicine (P<.0001).

CONCLUSION: Mini-medical school programs are an effective tool to inspire high school students to pursue careers in medicine, including osteopathic medicine.

Author List

Kaye KE, Berns AL, Cress LR, Nazar AM

Author

Kathryn Berlin DO Assistant Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Career Choice
Female
Humans
Male
Osteopathic Medicine
Program Evaluation
Retrospective Studies
Schools, Medical
Students, Medical
Surveys and Questionnaires
West Virginia