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Purpose <p>Medical students pursuing competitive specialties without corresponding residency programs at their home institution face challenges in building strong residency applications. This study explored how students and residents navigated these barriers, aiming to inform resource development for medical institutions.</p> Methods <p>Surveys and interviews were conducted in 2023 with recent graduates and current medical students interested in NHP specialties, focusing on mentorship, perceived barriers, and strategies for connecting with mentors. Follow-up interviews explored the actions taken by residents to match, the role of mentorship, and its impact. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.</p> Results <p>Responses were collected from 14/21 residents (66.7%) and 37/130 students (28.4%) interested in NHP specialties; 21.4% of residents and 21.6% of students participated in interviews. Common barriers included lack of home residency programs, limited research opportunities, and insufficient mentorship. 97.0% of respondents sought mentorship outside their institution. Interviews highlighted mentorship as crucial for securing research opportunities, application advice, and early exposure of the specialty. Students often sought career-aligned mentors outside their institution for guidance on sub-internships, research, networking, and letters of recommendation.</p> Conclusions <p>Proactive efforts for career guidance and mentorship are essential for students pursuing specialties without home residency programs. The study underscores the value of mentorship in overcoming these challenges and the need for institutions to help students secure mentors through structured mentorship initiatives.</p>

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Mentorship matters: medical students without home residency programs

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月2日

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  • Justin Lindsay,
  • Aurelia Incristi,
  • Jed Speers,
  • Bryson Arnett,
  • Kyle Arens,
  • Lisa Journell,
  • Priti Parikh

摘要

Purpose

Medical students pursuing competitive specialties without corresponding residency programs at their home institution face challenges in building strong residency applications. This study explored how students and residents navigated these barriers, aiming to inform resource development for medical institutions.

Methods

Surveys and interviews were conducted in 2023 with recent graduates and current medical students interested in NHP specialties, focusing on mentorship, perceived barriers, and strategies for connecting with mentors. Follow-up interviews explored the actions taken by residents to match, the role of mentorship, and its impact. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Responses were collected from 14/21 residents (66.7%) and 37/130 students (28.4%) interested in NHP specialties; 21.4% of residents and 21.6% of students participated in interviews. Common barriers included lack of home residency programs, limited research opportunities, and insufficient mentorship. 97.0% of respondents sought mentorship outside their institution. Interviews highlighted mentorship as crucial for securing research opportunities, application advice, and early exposure of the specialty. Students often sought career-aligned mentors outside their institution for guidance on sub-internships, research, networking, and letters of recommendation.

Conclusions

Proactive efforts for career guidance and mentorship are essential for students pursuing specialties without home residency programs. The study underscores the value of mentorship in overcoming these challenges and the need for institutions to help students secure mentors through structured mentorship initiatives.