• Mark E Pepin, J Paige Souder, Alice N Weaver, Robin G Lorenz, Talene Yacoubian, and Randy L Seay.
• Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine, 1808 7th Ave S, Birmingham, AL, 35233 USA.
• J Natl Med Assoc. 2022 Jun 1; 114 (3): 251257251-257.

AbstractAmong the many academic challenges faced by dual-degree MD-PhD students is access to professional support networks designed to overcome the unique academic and personal barriers to physician-scientist training. In the current study, we hypothesized that regional access to a student MD-PhD conference, termed the Southeastern Medical Scientist Symposium (SEMSS), would enhance medical and/or graduate training by fostering such relationships between physician-scientist trainees, doing so by discussing both the challenges of physician-scientist training and effective strategies to overcome them. In the current study, we used a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the overall usefulness of SEMSS over a ten-year period (2010-2020) to identify key areas of particular benefit to trainees. The authors used conference registration data to compile self-reported demographic and regional attendance, followed by a post-conference survey to gauge attendee satisfaction. Over the reporting period, SEMSS was attended by equivalent proportions of MD-PhD and undergraduate students, among which were a high-percentage of students from underrepresented minority (URM) groups relative to the national MD-PhD applicant pool; nearly one-third of URM students attendees later matriculated into MD-PhD programs, far exceeding the national MD-PhD matriculation rate. Among the benefits reported by students were "opportunities to network with peers" and opportunities to learn about the physician-scientist career track. Therefore, we therefore propose regional MD-PhD conferences as an effective model to promote diversity within the physician-scientist training pipeline.Copyright © 2022 National Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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