1027 Project Synapse and Diversification of the Neurosurgical Workforce

INTRODUCTION: Neurosurgeons are a homogenous population; 12% of board-certified neurosurgeons identify as female, while fewer than 5% of trainees identify as black, indigenous, or people of color. In medicine, youth outreach programs can create pipelines for underrepresented minority (URM) students. Project Synapse, a youth outreach initiative, aims to diversify the neurosurgical workforce by exposing youth from URM backgrounds to neurosurgery. METHODS: One hundred seventy-nine students from Chicago attended a one-hour educational workshop led by physicians from an academic medical center. Pre- and post-workshop, students were surveyed as to their opinions and knowledge of neurosurgery. Demographic information was captured. RESULTS: Eighty-six percent of attendees identified as people of color, 22% as Hispanic or Latino and 63% as female. Comparison of pre- and post-workshop surveys revealed a significant increase in middle school student interest in neuroscience (p = 0.042) and pursuing neurosurgery (p = 0.004). Post-workshop, high school students were more likely to indicate interest in neuroscience (p = 0.018) and neurosurgery (p = 0.015). These students were also more familiar with the career pathway to becoming a doctor (p = 0.018) and a neurosurgeon (p < 0.001). Post-workshop, neuroscience knowledge significantly increased for both middle (p < 0.001) and high school (p < 0.001) students. CONCLUSIONS: Youth outreach programs are effective in stimulating URM student interest in neuroscience and neurosurgery. Youth outreach programs may be one of many tools to achieve diversification of the neurosurgical workforce.