Speed date our specialty: a novel event to increase students�?? understanding of family medicine

Abstract

Nora King, Sam Porter, Megan Chock, Kurt Angstman, Jennifer Pecina

The number of primary care physicians must increase in order to meet growing demand. Encouraging students’ interest in primary care is an essential part of strengthening the primary care workforce. The Mayo Medical School Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) held an event modeled after “speed-dating” to introduce first- and second-year medical students to the specialty of family medicine. Pre- and post-event surveys were used to assess the impact of the event on students’ understanding of family medicine. Students rated the event as valuable and reported significant improvements in their level of understanding of all aspects of family medicine queried with the exception of income of family practitioners. The Speed Date Our Specialty event was wellreceived by students and did improve their understanding of the scope of family medicine. Suggestions for improvements for future events include lengthening amount of time at each table and allowing more free time at the end of the event for students to speak further with individual physicians.