Study to track career path decisions

A new study is being undertaken that will measure and assess factors that drive students from Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry to choose different career paths. The study is being conducted by the School's Evaluation Unit in collaboration with the undergraduate and postgraduate medical programs. Dr. Bertha Garcia, Vice Dean, Education, is the principle investigator.

Students from both the London and Windsor programs will be offered the opportunity to participate in the study. They will answer a series of questions about their educational and family backgrounds, life experiences that may have influenced their career plans, factors that might impact career choices, and perspectives on rural-regional medicine.

Overall, this study will track the career trajectory of students and gauge and evaluate what role, if any, programs and experiences at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry played in affecting decisions about career choices. The data will help the School's administrators better understand the impact that its curricular programs, as well as the overall student experience, has with respect to trainee career choices.

It is hoped that the information will also be helpful in informing and improving several key components of the School's educational and administrative programs. This would include, but not be limited to, admissions and recruitment criteria, curriculum design, and support services.

More broadly, this project has far-reaching benefits as the data collected as part of this study will allow better tailoring of training and development programs. Any gaps and redundancies regarding the medical professional needs of communities across Ontario could then be addressed.

Longitudinal in nature, the study will involve follow-up with participants at five and 10 years into practice. And while there is no planned end-date, data will be reviewed annually and the complete data-set assessed at milestone intervals.