Educational Research: Why Medical Students Choose Neurology

Objective To understand medical students' motivations for choosing neurology and how applicants conceptualize the field, as this information can be used to enhance interest in develop educational programs help identify, support, recruit future neurologists. Background Applicants residencies submit personal statements describing themselves their motivations. Textual analysis of has been performed internal medicine general surgery, but never before neurology. We hypothesized that specific words themes would mentioned residency with high frequencies indicating Methods computational linguistics software assess key thereby study motivations, expectations, present among applicants. A total 2,405 submitted over 5 years our institution were de-identified compiled into a database evaluation through 3 programs. calculations term (TF) TF–inverse document K-means clustering identify unique common themes. Results Specific disease states discussed. For example, stroke (TF 2,178), epilepsy 970), dementia 944) referenced more often than amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 220) carpal tunnel 10). The most proper names cited Oliver Sacks 94) Sherlock Holmes 41). Common included fascination brain, research, desire patients, early interests neurology, continued pursuit learning, appreciation time family history neurologic illness, intellectual curiosity. Conclusions This first linguistic provides understanding interests. Ongoing subgroup thematic analyses may inform strategies recruitment field.