How we created a peer-designed specialty-specific selective for medical student career exploration

Abstract

Background: In recent years, medical students have recognized and advocated for opportunities to explore various specialties earlier in their medical education. A brief literature review, however, reveals little consensus on the best approach to introduce students to different fields during their preclinical years.

Aim: We present one of the first reports of a student-led effort to design and implement a preclinical specialty-specific elective.

Methods: At Mayo Medical School, for two consecutive years the student president of the Pediatric Interest Group has created a peer-designed weeklong group elective (“selective”) experience consisting of workshops, faculty and resident panel discussions, and clinical shadowing experiences based on a student needs assessment.

Results: Each year, more than 25% of the first- and second-year medical student body participated. The majority of students who completed the selective agreed that this experience heightened their interests and expanded their knowledge about pediatrics.

Conclusions: The pediatric group selective has provided students with important resources for their medical education and future careers. Students found the group selective beneficial to their learning experience and recommend continuing to offer it in the future.