Beyond the Operating Room: A Collaborative, Multi-Institutional Approach to Increasing Representation in Surgery via Early Exposure – A Longitudinal Study

Purpose Several organizations (e.g., Association of Surgical Education) advocate for innovative approaches to foster a more inclusive environment in surgery. Despite efforts, representation of women and specific groups, including Black, and Hispanic trainees, remain disproportionately low compared to the general population. Research indicates that early exposure to healthcare careers, even at the pre-medical/undergraduate level, could foster interest in medicine and improve representation in the surgical field. However, initiatives leveraging a multi-institutional approach with interdisciplinary collaboration remain limited and unexplored as tools to attract diverse talents further. Methods We developed a half-day interdisciplinary workshop introducing pre-medical students to surgery, focusing uniquely on post-operative rehabilitation and healthcare disparities in post-amputees. The workshop, held in November 2024, was led by Patients as Teachers (PaT) alongside General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and PM&R specialists. Physicians, residents, and medical students from multiple New York City programs engaged with pre-medical students. We collected demographic data and assessed surgical knowledge and workshop objectives through pre/post-workshop surveys and a three-month follow-up. Results A diverse cohort of 229 pre-medical students registered and completed the pre-workshop survey. Most were female (78%, n = 179), with 52% (n = 119) identifying as underrepresented in medicine and 39% (n = 179) prospective first-generation medical students. Most participants were recruited via organizational email newsletters (58%, n = 132) and social media outreach (25%, n = 58). Despite high awareness of the surgical field (96%, n = 220), only 8% (n = 19) had shadowed a surgeon, and 3% (n = 7) had received mentorship. Post-workshop results (70.7% response rate) demonstrated a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001) in the knowledge of the surgical profession and topics, including common vascular diseases, indications for amputation, laparoscopic techniques and indications, the pros and cons the profession, and the pathways and responsibilities of a surgeon. Understanding of post-operative rehabilitation and the role of coordinated care between surgeons and PM&R physicians also improved significantly (p < 0.001). The workshop was enthusiastically embraced, with all attendees reporting they would recommend it to a friend and 86% (n = 50) reporting they could identify a future mentor. At the three-month follow-up assessment (n = 12), students maintained their previously reported levels of confidence in their knowledge and enthusiasm for general surgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation, with no significant changes observed. Conclusion The curriculum was well received, significantly increasing short- and long-term awareness of key surgical topics and post-operative rehabilitation. Participants reported high satisfaction with the content and structure. These findings support the need for expanding early exposure programs and leveraging a collaborative, multi-institutional approach to attract diverse students to surgery.