Enhancing Medical Student Resilience and Wellness: Assessing Acceptability of a Supportive Student-Alumni Network.

Abstract

Objective: This pilot study assessed the acceptability of an online network where medical students could seek advice from alumni regarding social and academic challenges. Objectives included assembling a critical mass of students and alumni who would be interested and determining if alumni's past experiences overlap with current student challenges and what communication modalities both parties would use.

Methods: A survey was sent to first-, second-, and third-year medical students at the University of Cincinnati to gauge interest and to see which experiences they would want support for. It was advertised through emails, newsletters, posters, and social media. A similar survey was sent to alumni who graduated in the past 5 years. Responses were collected over 3 months.

Results: Responses from 78 of 535 (15%) students and 36 alumni were collected, with 71% (55/78) of students and 91% (33/36) of alumni being interested. The most common topics for both groups were burnout, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and ending a relationship. There was at least one alumnus for each experience. Of 31 alumni and 57 students who answered how to meet, 61% of alumni preferred phone for first contact, and 85% of students preferred virtual meetings.

Conclusions: The results suggest that creating a student-alumni network was acceptable due to similar demographics and overlapping experiences. The data indicated that students could contact alumni by phone to discuss how to meet given the diversity of student preferences. This resource could be explored at other medical schools as a novel means of support.