Empowering Futures: The Impact of Surgical Research Pipeline Programs on Undergraduate Career Development

Purpose: Surgical research pipeline programs provide a unique insight into academic surgery, offering a distinctive opportunity for aspiring future surgeons and medical professionals to identify suitable mentorship. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of an academic summer research, shadowing, and mentorship program on undergraduate students with interest in the fields of medicine and surgery.

Methods: We conducted a convergent mixed methods study on undergraduate students who participated in the Surgery Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program from 2017 to 2022, excluding the 2020 cohort as their experience was highly impacted by COVID-19. SURE, program connected academic surgeons with students interested in medicine, involving them in research, lectures, and clinical shadowing. Students completed questionnaires and participated in semi-structured focus group interviews to assess the program's impact on their career goals.

Results: Twenty-five undergraduate students completed the self-administered survey with a response rate of 51.0% and 5 participated in the focus group interviews. Among the participants, 12 (48.0%) students were currently enrolled in medical school, while an equal proportion had taken their Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and were in the process of applying to medical school. 88.0% believed that their involvement in the program significantly increased their interest in academic surgery and empowered them to pursue a career in medicine. 84.0% reported that the program helped them find the right mentorship and guidance, while 80.0% reported increased proficiency in research skills. These quantitative findings were further substantiated by qualitative data obtained through focus group interviews. From these interviews, 4 noticeable emergent themes highlighted by the participants included the significance of right mentorship, a deeper understanding of healthcare and surgical career paths, increased research literacy, and career development.

Conclusion: Early exposure to surgical practices and mentorship significantly enhanced the enthusiasm of undergraduate students toward a surgical career while expanding their comprehension of surgical professions. Investing in such pipeline programs can exert a positive influence on undergraduate students' perceptions of surgical careers, thereby creating new avenues of opportunity for them.