Abstract Details

Title Mapping Neurology Elective Opportunities for Medical Students in the United States

Topic ��ɫ��, Research, and Methodology

Presentation(s) P3 - Poster Session 3 (5:00 PM-6:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 15-004

Objective To characterize medical student neurology elective experiences in the United States based on subspecialty focus, institutional type, geographic distribution, experience duration, and related factors.

Background

Electives and away rotations during the third and fourth years of medical school provide students with valuable exposure to neurology and serve as a critical factor in final specialty choice. Examining the structure of existing neurology electives can highlight the breadth and diversity of offerings and inform students’ decision-making and curricular planning.

Design/Methods A review was conducted using publicly available elective listings from the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) database and websites of U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals hosting neurology elective experiences (n=154). Electives were categorized by subspecialty focus area (e.g., general neurology, child neurology, neurocritical care), duration (2 to 8 weeks), setting (urban, suburban, or rural), institutional affiliation (medical school or teaching hospital), and geographic region (Northeast, Midwest, South, or West).

Results The majority of electives were affiliated with medical schools (76%), located in urban settings (90%), and structured as 4-week clinical experiences (80%). Forty percent focused on general adult neurology; 13% on child neurology; 10% on neurocritical care; 8% on epilepsy, EEG, or clinical neurophysiology; and 5% on stroke or vascular neurology. The remaining programs represented areas such as neuro-oncology, movement, headache, sleep, neuro-opthalmology, vestibular, neuro-rehabilitation, and ethics. Less than 2% were primarily research-focused. Electives were distributed across the Northeast (27%), Midwest (20%), South (30%), and West (23%).

Conclusions This study highlights that U.S. neurology electives are predominantly 4-week, urban, and medical school-based, with increasing subspecialty diversity beyond general adult neurology. Standardized reporting of neurology electives and offerings may enhance students’ decision-making in pursuing particular experiences as well as help identify gaps in exposure, particularly in rural settings.

Authors/Disclosures
Chinmayi Balusu, MPH PRESENTER	Miss Balusu has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Dana Foundation.

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