Abstract: FR-PO050
Overview and Outcomes of the Kidney STARS Program
Session Information
- Educational Research
November 03, 2023 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Educational Research
- 1000 Educational Research
Authors
- Chan, Lili, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States
- Rolon, Leticia, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, United States
- Rubin, Molly, American Society of Nephrology, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Gibson, Keisha L., University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
- Brewster, Ursula C., Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Hoover, Robert S., Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
- Sozio, Stephen M., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Background
The ASN Kidney Students and Residents (STARS) program was founded to increase interest in Nephrology careers. In addition to tailored events and networking opportunities, this program provides travel support and complimentary registration to attend the Annual Meeting during ASN Kidney Week. Understanding the impact of Kidney STARS participation on recruitment of trainees into the nephrology workforce is critical.
Methods
We tracked medical students (MS) and residents (PGY) STARS participants from 2009-2017 using Doximity, ABIM, and ABP by searching for the participants’ first and last names. Two reviewers validated the search results. MS began to be accepted into the program in 2010. Those that participated multiple times were logged in their first year of participation only. Participants who were still in training at the time of tracking (e.g., MS or PGY), were international participants, or were unable to be validated by the reviewers were excluded from final analysis. Starting in 2010, assessment of participant interest in nephrology pre- and post- participation was obtained via a post-Kidney Week survey.
Results
There have been 1,624 STARS participants over those nine years, of which 1,128 were included in our tracking metrics. MS made up 26% of the participants while PGY constituted 74%. 52% of participants completed a fellowship in nephrology (Figure 1A). A larger proportion of PGY participants chose a career in nephrology compared to MS participants (64% vs. 18%, P<0.001) (Figure 1B) with significantly higher odds (OR 8, 95% CI 5.8-11.2). While MS had lower pre- and post- interest than residents (Pre 6.2 vs. 7.7, P<0.001 and Post 7.4 vs. 8.9, P<0.001), relative change in interest was higher in MS (19 vs. 15.3, P=0.007) (Figure 1C).
Conclusion
The ASN Kidney STARS program has been adapted to include diverse levels of learners, has built programs in mentorship, and has refined its approaches. The program has been successful with more than half of participants in the STARS program completing a fellowship in nephrology. Continued investment into the Kidney STARS program is critical to attracting trainees into nephrology.
Funding
- NIDDK Support