Abstract
Purpose :
Ophthalmology plays a vital role in global healthcare by addressing visual impairment through preventative measures and treatments. Ensuring comprehensive education on global ophthalmology (GO) for medical students is crucial, as it equips future physicians with the necessary knowledge to address the diverse and evolving eye health needs of underserved populations worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate medical students' perceptions and educational experiences in the United States (U.S.) concerning GO.
Methods :
A cross-sectional web-based anonymized survey was conducted during the month of November 2023, targeting medical students interested in ophthalmology from U.S. medical schools. The survey was distributed to medical schools via affiliated ophthalmology interest group emails and social media accounts.
Results :
Thirty-five participants who were interested in ophthalmology responded to the survey. Twenty-six (74.3%) reported familiarity with GO. Approximately, 74.3% (n=26) had an affiliated ophthalmology residency program with 11.4% reporting an affiliated GO fellowship program. The predominant global health interests included public health (n=21), skills transfer (n=16), and advocacy (n=10). Approximately 10 students (28.6%) reported having a GO mentor. A majority had volunteer or free clinic experiences (91.4%) and were first-generation medical students (62.9%). Nineteen students reported 1-3 gap years between medical school and undergraduate education. Fourteen students (40%) had prior global health experience and 51.4% spoke a language other than English. While 57.1% of participants were aware of a GO fellowship, 65.8% expressed that they might or probably will apply for GO fellowship training.
Conclusions :
Survey findings revealed that most ophthalmology-inclined medical students were aware of and interested in GO fellowship training despite disparities in GO mentorship. These observations offer valuable guidance for residency and GO fellowship programs, highlighting specific obstacles and themes that should be emphasized to provide early support for medical students embarking on their careers in GO.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.