Student-Alumni Network Pilot
Posted Date: Apr 18, 2024
- Investigator: Delaney Schrenk
- Specialties:
- Type of Study: Observational/Survey
Introduction: Several interventions to support medical student wellness have been studied. For example, peer-to-peer or near-peer groups can lead to academic improvement and social connection. However, no one has investigated whether medical students can benefit from the perspective and support of alumni who have already been through the challenges of medical school. Here, we assess the feasibility of establishing a medical student-alumni network by answering three main questions. First, how many students and alumni would be interested and what affects their interest. Second, do alumni experiences overlap with student experiences to discuss. Third, what communication modalities would both parties use. We also characterize the demographics of both groups. Methods: Following IRB approval, two Qualtrics surveys were sent. The student survey was sent to M1s, M2s, and M3s and advertised through emails, newsletters, posters, and social media. The alumni survey was sent to all University of Cincinnati alumni who graduated in the past 5 years and to Gold Humanism Honor Society members who graduated in the past 5 years. Responses were collected over 3 months. Results: Responses from 68 students and 35 alumni were collected. Responses were excluded if participants did not answer the item regarding level of interest. 71% of students were interested and 24% selected “maybe” if they found personal time, had guidance through the network, developed unique hardships, or could talk to nontraditional students. 91% of alumni were willing to talk to students, and 92% of them reported that their own anxiety in reaching out during medical school motivated them to participate. Of the 54 students and 35 alumni that reported experiences, the most common topics for both groups were burnout, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and ending a relationship. There was at least 1 alumnus for every categorical student experience. Military obligations and first-generation needs were unmatched special requests from students. Of the 53 students who answered how they would connect with alumni, 85% would use virtual modalities, 69% would meet in-person, 50% would call without video, and 33% would be open to in-person panels. Of 31 alumni who answered how students could best reach them, 61% preferred phone for first contact, 23% preferred virtual modalities, and 16% preferred in-person. Conclusion: Together, our surveys suggest that creating a student-alumni network is feasible. This conclusion is based on similar demographics and a strong overlap of most common struggles with at least 1 alumnus per categorical experience. The data indicates that the best way for student-alumni pairs to meet is by first contacting alumni by phone to discuss how to meet given the diversity of student preferences. Multiple times to meet, detailed network instructions, and frequent advertising in case students do develop hardships would address student hesitation. Finally, it would be beneficial to recruit nontraditional, military-affiliated, and first-generation alumni as new classes graduate to address unique hardships.
Criteria:
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Keywords:
Medical Student, Mental Health
For More Information:
Delaney Schrenk
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daschrenk@gmail.com