Academic Medicine Open Forum

Dear Colleagues:

I continue to seek your assistance in recruiting participants to an important research study titled "Easing the Flow Out of the Leaky Pipeline: Supporting Pre-Medical Students towards Meaningful Alternative Career Paths," which is being supported by a 2023-2024 NACADA Research Grant.  

Many undergraduate students begin their academic journey as pre-medicine, but less than 50% of applicants to U.S. medical schools are admitted each year and even more end their pursuits prior to applying. The process by which pre-medical students choose to change their career path and how higher education professionals working with these students can best support them in finding and adjusting to alternative career paths is currently under-explored. Through qualitative interviews, this study will explore the process, influences, facilitators, and barriers that pre-medical students experience when confronted with the decision to pursue an alternative career path.

You are being asked if you want to take part in this study because you are a university faculty member or staff member who serves as an advisor to students who may have started their academic path as pre-medicine. I am hoping that you may share this email and attached flyer with undergraduate or graduate student(s) who you have advised in the past 5 years and had considered applying to medical school but changed their career path and never applied to medical school.

All data collected will be reported in aggregate form without any identifying information to ensure your student(s)' confidentiality.  

Your student(s)' participation in the study is completely voluntary and they may choose to withdraw at any time.

Please share the attached flyer with previous pre-medicine students directing them to a participant Intake Form.  If you or your students have any questions regarding the study, please contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Lisa Schwartz at LSchwartz@gwu.edu or (571) 553-0137.

Lisa