Strategies to attract medical students to the specialty of child neurology

The decline in the number of medical students choosing to enter the field of child neurology is a concern. We undertook this study to learn more about the qualities of highly regarded medical schools that may play a role in attracting students to the field of child neurology. We surveyed child neurologists at top U.S. medical schools that were most successful and least successful at attracting students to child neurology to determine what factors influenced the number of students entering the field of child neurology. We determined that the medical schools that produced the most child neurologists had stronger neuroscience curricula, stronger academic reputations, and larger Divisions of Child Neurology. Our findings suggest that our attention should be focused on academic centers that have more resources to create an atmosphere that is appealing to prospective applicants. These schools should implement a curriculum in neuroscience and child neurology that specifically exposes students early and maintains their interest in the field of child neurology. (C) 2004 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.