Thread by @RoyStrowdMD

1/How do we get undergrad neuroscience students interested in careers in #neurology, #neurosurgery, #psychiatry, & related fields? @MiaMinenMD & colleagues have answers in their new pub 👇
Read on:
Bridging Undergrad Neurosciences With Clinical Neurology ne.neurology.org/content/1/1/e2…

2/The US faces a neurologist shortage:
- By 2025, there will be a 21K deficit of neurologists
- Neuroscience=5th most common major
- But only 2.5% of med students pursue neurology, 1% neurosurg, 6% psych

See: supply/demand analysis of US neuro workforce n.neurology.org/content/81/5/4…

3/In this new @GreenJournal #NeurologyEd pub, @MiaMinenMD et al conducted a cross-sectional survey study of undergrad neuroscience faculty (#FUN faculty) to understand curricular goals, existing interaction with neurologists, and desire to connect with clinicians and researchers.

4/Out of 523 neuroscience faculty sent the survey in 2020, 140 responded (27% RR) and included faculty from across the US at predominantly liberal arts colleges teaching introduction as well as advanced topics in neuroscience:

5/Faculty reported that opportunities exist to shadow, do neuro research, volunteer with patients, but most were available on case-by-case and student word-of-mouth basis. Only 25% of neuroscience faculty invite neurologists to speak with students; & nearly all were open to this.

6/Four barriers to plugging students into neurology research were identified including:
1. lack of exposure
2. inadequate resources
3. regional limitations
4. student interest, experience, discomfort

7/The top 3 suggestions for incorporating more neurology into neuroscience were:
1. Funding for students to take part in research (81%)
2. Connecting with local neurologists (78%)
3. Funding for students to attend conferences (63%)

8/Prior survey of undergrad STUDENTS found similar barriers "limited ... exposure to neurologists, clinical neuro experiences, & clinical research" & "early engagement helps ... encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to consider neurology"
n.neurology.org/content/98/8/3…

9/Prior studies have also highlighted similar barriers to attracting the next generation of med student neurologists:

Attracting neurology's next generation n.neurology.org/content/95/8/e…

@jtjordan @RanaSaidMD @MedEdAdvocate #NeuroTwitter

10/The authors conclude that "despite increases in the number of institutions offering an undergrad neuroscience major or minor in recent years, there are currently several key barriers limiting the ability to CONNECT the undergraduate neurosciences to clinical neurology"
#MedEd

11/How do we make this CONNECTION between neurology & undergrad neuroscience programs?

There is a roadmap, including prior work from @MiaMinenMD & @RebeccaWellsMD

Building the Neurology Pipeline With Undergraduate Students in Research/Clinical Practice n.neurology.org/content/96/9/4…

12/So, where should we go from here? The authors suggest:
-formal programs that provide students funding & networking
-compare experiences of faculty and students at institutions with/without affiliated med school
-pipeline initiatives with resources on how to mentor an undergrad

13/There may also be value to programs that link undergrads to neurology patients - such as an undergraduate #NeuroDay:

Training in Neurology: Neuro Day n.neurology.org/content/96/10/…

@NeurologyWvu #FutureNeurologists

14/Great paper from @MiaMinenMD @NYUneurologyres & Raddy Ramos @nyit.

Read more @ ne.neurology.org
@charmysy @dilucadaniel @SMLazar @RanaSaidMD @ASouthStrokeDoc @yaleneuropd @RachelSalasMD @MBernsonLeung @zach_london @daravfalbert @KatherineFuMD @jsirven @stefanosandrone