Impact of a urological medical student interest group on education and career development

TL;DR

A urology student interest group improved education and influenced career choices, showing the value of extracurricular programs in medical training.

Contribution

Demonstrates how a student interest group can enhance urology education and impact career decisions in a specialty with limited curricular focus.

Findings

71.2% of participants felt UMSIG enhanced their urology education beyond the standard curriculum.

52.0% of non-urologists and 78.6% of urologists credited UMSIG with influencing their career choices.

Participants reported high satisfaction, with a median rating of 9/10 for the program.

Abstract

•Urology is underrepresented in medical training worldwide.•The group supported early mentorship and educational growth.•Career choices were positively influenced by participation.•Most participants reported high satisfaction with the program.

Urology is underrepresented in medical training worldwide.

The group supported early mentorship and educational growth.

Career choices were positively influenced by participation.

Most participants reported high satisfaction with the program.

Medical education often provides limited exposure to urology, despite the growing prevalence of urological conditions. To address this gap, the Urological Medical Student Interest Group (UMSIG) was established in 2006. This study aimed to evaluate the educational and professional impact of UMSIG participation among its current and former members.

An electronic survey was distributed to 226 former and current UMSIG members between December 2023 and February 2024, collecting data on demographics, motivations for joining, perceptions of UMSIG activities, and influence on career decisions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

We received 111 responses (49.1 % response rate). The primary motivations for joining UMSIG included a desire to deepen urology knowledge (77.5 %) and recommendations from peers (56.8 %). Most respondents (71.2 %) reported that UMSIG enhanced their urology education beyond the standard curriculum through practical experiences. Participation also had impact on career trajectories: 52.0 % of non-urologists indicated that UMSIG influenced their current specialty, while 78.6 % of urologists cited it as a decisive factor in their choice of specialization. Overall satisfaction was high, with a median rating of 9/10, and 55.9 % considered UMSIG superior to other medical student interest groups.

Participation in UMSIG provided a valuable supplement to formal medical education by offering practical clinical experience and research opportunities. The program influenced participants' career decisions, reinforcing interest in urology and related surgical fields. These findings underscore the important role of structured extracurricular programs in medical education, particularly in specialties with limited curricular presence.