Increased Exposure Improves Recruitment: Early Results of a Program Designed to Attract Medical Students Into Surgical Careers

These results suggest that an 8-week, structured program introducing students to cardiothoracic surgery can successfully attract students into surgical careers. The percentage (52%) of these students entering a surgical career compares favorably with national residency match results (16%) and graduating Johns Hopkins medical students (22%). Increased effort for early exposure to surgery may be a key factor in generating and securing surgical interest among medical students.