Enhancing Undergraduate Medical Student Neurology Exposure via the Texas A&M College of Medicine's Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) Results in Higher Neurology Residency Matches
Maya Ramy1, Ryan Nguyen2, Tanu Garg3
1Texas A&M College of Medicine, 2Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, 3Vascular Neurology, Houston Methodist Hospital
Objective:

Create a valuable resource for medical students interested in neurology, offering insights into the clinical aspects of the field and opportunities for engagement through clinical, research, and service activities within neurology.

Background:

The Texas A&M College of Medicine (TAMU COM) employs a multiple campus model, with five clinical sites across Texas. However, as of 2019, TAMU COM lacked a neurology clerkship and a Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN). Studies indicate that exposure to a medical specialty through various formats enhances interest in that field.

Design/Methods:

TAMU COM established SIGN during the summer of 2019. Officers were selected to represent students at all campus sites. Throughout the year, SIGN organized numerous events, including Introduction to Neurology lectures, Subspecialty Neurology Panels, EMG and NIHSS workshops, and more. Additionally, SIGN compiled a list of research and clinical opportunities in neurology available across TAMU's campuses.

Results:

Since the inception of TAMU SIGN, membership has grown from zero students at its launch to 122 students by 2023. Zoom-based events have consistently attracted an average attendance of 50 students per event, while in-person interactive workshops have drawn an average of 15 students per session. At each campus, a total of 5 students have actively engaged in research or clinical opportunities facilitated through SIGN. The number of TAMU COM students matching into the field of Neurology has also increased: 1 in 2018, 2 in 2019, 4 in 2020, 4 in 2021, 3 in 2022, and 3 in 2023.

Conclusions:
Early involvement in a medical specialty during medical education can elicit interest, particularly when the curriculum lacks mandatory clinical exposure to the field. The establishment of SIGN at TAMU COM enabled students to nurture their interest in neurology through exposure and interactions they would not have had otherwise. This led to an increase in students entering the field of neurology.
10.1212/WNL.0000000000204486