From the Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), NYU Langone Health; Department of Population Health (M.T.M., S.F.), NYU Langone Health; Barnard College (K.K.), Columbia University, New York, NY; City College (S.A., D.K.), City University of New York, NY; American Academy of Neurology (T.O., C.E.R.), Minneapolis, MN; and Department of Neurology (R.E.W.), Wake Forest Baptist Health, NC.
Neurology. 2022 Feb 22;98(8):314-323. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000013259. Epub 2021 Dec 22.
Despite increased neuroscience interest at the undergraduate level, a significant shortage of neurologists in the United States exists. To better understand how to generate more interest in neurology, specifically at the undergraduate level, we conducted an anonymous cross-sectional online survey comprising 1,085 undergraduates in either neuroscience courses or majoring/minoring in neuroscience from across the United States to better understand their clinical neurology experiences and perspectives. The survey quantitatively and qualitatively assessed students' clinical neurology exposure inside and outside of the classroom, research experiences, and career goals. Students were from a broad spectrum of undergraduate institutions (public research university [40.8%], liberal arts college [29.7%], and private research university [29.0%]). Most students (89.9%) were looking to pursue graduate studies; 56.9% reported wanting to be a physician, and 17.8% expressed interest in obtaining an MD/PhD. Of importance, students reported first exposure to neuroscience at age 16 years but felt that they could be exposed to neuroscience as early as 13 years. Half (50.5%) decided to major in neuroscience before college, and a quarter (25.6%) decided to major in their first year of college. Despite high interest in clinical neurology exposure, less than one-third of students had spoken with or shadowed a neurologist, and only 13.6% had interacted with clinical neurology populations. Only 20.8% of students felt volunteer and internship opportunities were sufficiently available. Qualitative results include student perspectives from those who did and did not work with a neurologist, describing how they were or were not able to obtain such opportunities. We discuss translating the survey findings into actionable results with opportunities to target the undergraduate neuroscience interest to improve the neurology pipeline. We describe existing programs that could be integrated into everyday neurology practices and new approaches to learning and training to help leverage the significant undergraduate neuroscience interest. We also raise questions for further research, including exploring (1) how students learn of neurologic conditions/expand their knowledge about additional neurologic conditions, (2) whether qualitative investigation of the experiences of neuroscience undergraduates at specific institutions might provide an additional insight, and (3) systems to maintain interest in neuroscience/neurology as students enter medical school.
尽管美国本科阶段的神经科学兴趣有所增加，但仍然存在严重的神经科医生短缺问题。为了更好地了解如何激发更多人对神经科学的兴趣，特别是在本科生阶段，我们进行了一项匿名的横断面在线调查，调查对象是来自美国各地的 1085 名神经科学课程或神经科学专业的本科生，以更好地了解他们的临床神经科学经验和观点。该调查从定量和定性两个方面评估了学生在课堂内外的临床神经科学接触、研究经验和职业目标。学生来自各种本科院校（公立研究型大学[40.8%]、文科学院[29.7%]和私立研究型大学[29.0%]）。大多数学生（89.9%）希望继续攻读研究生；56.9%的学生表示希望成为一名医生，17.8%的学生表示有兴趣获得医学博士/哲学博士学位。重要的是，学生报告说他们在 16 岁时首次接触神经科学，但他们认为自己早在 13 岁时就可以接触到神经科学。一半（50.5%）的学生在进入大学前就决定主修神经科学，四分之一（25.6%）的学生在大学一年级就决定主修神经科学。尽管学生对临床神经科学接触的兴趣很高，但只有不到三分之一的学生与神经科医生交谈过或当过神经科医生的助手，只有 13.6%的学生与临床神经科患者有过互动。只有 20.8%的学生认为志愿者和实习机会足够充足。定性结果包括那些与神经科医生合作和没有与神经科医生合作的学生的观点，描述了他们如何能够或不能够获得这些机会。我们讨论了如何将调查结果转化为可行的结果，以有针对性地培养本科生对神经科学的兴趣，从而改善神经科医生的培养渠道。我们描述了现有的可以纳入日常神经科实践的计划和新的学习和培训方法，以帮助利用本科生对神经科学的浓厚兴趣。我们还提出了进一步研究的问题，包括探讨（1）学生如何了解神经疾病/扩大他们对其他神经疾病的了解，（2）对特定机构的神经科学本科生的经验进行定性研究是否可能提供额外的见解，以及（3）在学生进入医学院时保持对神经科学/神经科的兴趣的系统。
