Letter to the Editor: A Guideline to Start a Neurosurgery Interest Group for Medical Students

Shared Objective Mentorship via Virtual Research and Education Initiatives for Medical Students and Residents in Neurosurgery: A Systematic Review and Methodological Discussion of the Neurosurgery Education and Research Virtual Group Experience

OBJECTIVE

Virtual mentorship and research programs are becoming increasingly popular to facilitate education and career development for students and residents. We review virtual research initiatives for early trainees in neurosurgery and describe our effort to expand access to resources and shared objective mentorship (SOM) via the novel Neurosurgery Education and Research Virtual Group (NERVE).

METHODS

A systematic review of neurosurgical programming delivered via a virtual platform was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Identified articles were screened. Those meeting prespecified inclusion criteria were reviewed in full and examined for relevant data. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel, and means and standard deviations were calculated. Descriptive analysis of NERVE characteristics was also performed.

RESULTS

Of the 2438 identified articles, 10 were included. The most common (70%) implementation style was a webinar-based lecture series. The least common (10%) was a longitudinal curricular interest group. Of the total NERVE cohort, 90% were first generation medical students and 82% attended institutions without home programs. Survey results indicated 73.8% had contributed to at least 2 research projects throughout the year.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a scarcity of virtual neurosurgical resources which facilitate SOM opportunities for trainees. In our systematic review, NERVE is the only multi-institutional virtual initiative aimed at increasing access to neurosurgical education and research opportunities for the purpose of SOM among early trainees from disadvantaged backgrounds. This highlights the group's niche and potential impact on increasing diversity in neurosurgery, improving trainees' career development, and facilitating future resident research productivity.

Research interest groups: Creating the foundation for professional nursing education, mentorship, and collaboration

BACKGROUND

Research Interest Groups have been used to enhance collaboration within specialty health care areas.

PURPOSE

This article was to demonstrate the impact of an organic model created by the TriService Nursing Research Program which became a conduit for collaboration across the three branches of Military Nursing Services to answer relevant research questions and support evidence-based practice.

METHODS

Groups were organized around different specialty topics with a focus on education, mentorship, and collaboration. Modest funding, together with the development of an annual plan and report of scholarly activities allowed the groups to capture their impact and to strategically align efforts to support the National Defense Strategy and excellence in Military Nursing.

FINDINGS

From 2018 to 2021, overall publications and funded grants for these groups increased each year despite multiple competing priorities.

DISCUSSION

TriService Nursing Research Program Research Interest Groups demonstrate a successful, and easily replicable model to generate and disseminate research to inform clinical practice and health policy, both in the public and private sectors.