Termination of a mandatory radiology clerkship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine: a survey of student opinion.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine has replaced a mandatory third-year radiology clerkship with a new family medicine rotation. This was done, ostensibly, to influence student career choice. We surveyed students to quantify their perceptions about the former radiology course.

METHODS

Questionnaires were sent to 498 present and former Albert Einstein College of Medicine students. Eight questions attempted to quantify the students' perceptions about the educational value of the radiology clerkship and assess its impact on subsequent career choice.

RESULTS

The mandatory clerkship taught the fundamentals of X-ray interpretation and the most efficacious ways of imaging disease processes. Students viewed the clerkship as useful and important for a well-rounded medical education. Most would have taken the course as an elective had it only been offered as such and would now encourage junior students to do likewise. The mandatory radiology clerkship did not influence the career choice of most survey respondents.

CONCLUSIONS

The former mandatory radiology clerkship had been an important part of student education at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and its termination is unlikely to affect student career choice.