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The Clinical Mentorship Program: a mixed-methods evaluation of a community-based medical education pathway program for high school students

Open access
Hunt, Victor M., Cheng, Jamie, de Lomba, Weston C., Warrier, Sarita·2026·BMC Medical Education
DOI 10.1186/s12909-026-09852-xPMC PMC13474693
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Abstract

Students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds face structural barriers to entering medicine, including limited access to early clinical exposure, physician guidance, and professional networks. To address these disparities, medical students at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University created a year-long Clinical Mentorship Program (CMP) for high school students in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The intervention combined monthly after-school instruction on basic science content and clinical skills by medical students with structured hospital-based shadowing and guided discussion with resident physicians. Using a mixed-methods pre-post design, the intervention evaluated changes in educational motivation, clinical self-efficacy, medical knowledge, awareness of other academic enrichment programs, and physician access and comfort. High school students demonstrated significant gains in motivation to attend college, understanding of cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology, understanding of physician roles, comfort interacting with physicians, self-reported physician access, and awareness of local educational opportunities. Qualitative findings highlighted the importance of experiential learning, guided shadowing, a clearer understanding of medical careers, and persistent structural barriers. These findings suggest that community-based programs that leverage local resources, networks, and infrastructure to combine medical education with guided clinical exposure may be feasible entry points into the medical pipeline for students confronting complex socioeconomic disadvantages.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This mixed-methods evaluation of a year-long, community-based Clinical Mentorship Program for high school students in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, found significant short-term gains in college motivation, perceived cardiopulmonary knowledge, understanding of physician roles, comfort interacting with physicians, awareness of local pathway programs, and self-reported physician access. Qualitative themes emphasized experiential learning, guided shadowing, clearer views of medical careers, and persistent structural barriers.

Key findings

  • Among 27 pre-program and 6 post-program survey respondents, significant improvements were reported for motivation to attend college (p = 0.020, Cohen’s d = 1.091), perceived cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology knowledge (p = 0.016, d = 1.144), understanding of physician roles (p = 0.046, d = 0.847), comfort interacting with physicians (p = 0.007, d = 1.328), and self-reported number of physician mentors/contacts (mean increase 0.67 to 1.83, p = 0.003, d = 1.518).
  • Awareness increased significantly for all three educational pathway programs: PLME (p < 0.001), HealthCORE (p = 0.005), and BSHS (p = 0.027), but interest in applying to these programs did not change significantly.
  • No statistically significant increases were found for academic motivation overall (p = 0.182), motivation to work in healthcare (p = 0.520), motivation to apply to medical school (p = 0.350), motivation to become a physician (p = 0.801), or confidence in medical interviewing, review of systems, and physical examination.
  • Qualitative analysis yielded four themes: experiential learning and guided shadowing enhanced engagement and understanding; the program increased clarity about medical careers; physician access and role modeling were valuable; and persistent structural barriers and limited opportunities remained salient.

Methods

  • The CMP was a longitudinal mixed-methods intervention for Woonsocket High School students during the 2024–2025 academic year, combining monthly after-school lectures, clinical skills training, and hospital-based shadowing at Landmark Medical Center with resident physicians; participation was voluntary and extracurricular.
  • Quantitative data came from Qualtrics surveys administered at the first and final program sessions, with 27 students completing the pre-program survey and 6 completing the post-program survey; analyses used Mann-Whitney U tests for ordinal items, Fisher’s exact test for categorical awareness questions, and effect sizes.
  • Qualitative data came from a single end-of-program semi-structured group reflection session, analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis framework with two independent reviewers resolving discrepancies through consensus.

Limitations

  • The paper states that surveys were anonymous and voluntary, so responses could not be matched at the individual level; the post-survey sample was small (n = 6), limiting statistical power and precision, and the lower post-program response rate was partly due to a school-wide end-of-year event.
  • The paper also states that participation was voluntary and attendance was not systematically analyzed, so dose of exposure could not be determined; there was no control group, most outcomes were self-report, the physician-mentor item was not formally defined, and qualitative findings came from a single reflection session in a small cohort at one institution.
  • Evident from the text: the study did not assess long-term outcomes such as college enrollment, persistence in pre-health pathways, or entry into medicine, and it did not use objective knowledge or skill assessments.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/s12909-026-09852-x

Cites

12 of 12 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

12 of 25 cited sources checked · 5 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    More recent work has shown declining representation of first-generation and low-income students within the national medical student body.

    “More recent work has likewise shown declining representation of first-generation and low-income students within the national medical student body [2].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2] Kamran SC, Pompa IR, Nguyen HB, Cha J, Salinas KE, Niemierko A, et al. First-generation and low-income students in the national medical student body. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e259769. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.9769. source

      The Results report that the proportion of first-generation medical students fell from 8.7% in 2002 to 7.1% in 2015. The paper does not report a corresponding decline in low-income students overall; the Discussion instead says the proportion of first-generation students in the lowest parental-income quintile increased. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    Nearly 75% of medical students represent the top two household-income quintiles.

    “This is evident by a disproportionate number of U.S. medical students coming from affluent households, with nearly 75% of medical students representing the top two household-income quintiles.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [1] Shahriar AA, Puram VV, Miller JM, et al. Socioeconomic diversity of the matriculating US medical student body by race, ethnicity, and sex, 2017–2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e222621. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.2621. source

      The Results report that 50.5% of respondents who reported parental income came from the highest household-income quintile, supporting the claim that affluent households are disproportionately represented. Our copy does not give a combined percentage for the top two quintiles, so it does not establish the claimed figure of nearly 75%. The study also covers matriculating allopathic students who reported parental income, rather than all medical students. (LLM, conf=0.83)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    The benefits of mentorship and exposure to authentic clinical environments are well documented across the educational continuum.

    “Although much of the literature has focused on pre-medical and medical students, the benefits of mentorship and exposure to authentic clinical environments are well documented across the educational continuum [7–10].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim4 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [7] Myers HE, Muhanna M, Maloney ME, Scanlan LG, Ange B, Spearman-McCarthy V, et al. Medical student mentorship for undergraduate students underrepresented in medicine improves confidence and knowledge about medical school application. Cureus. 2024;16(6):e63366. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.63366. source

      The Discussion reports psychosocial and career benefits of mentorship, and the Results show that pre-medical mentees valued it. The Results mention opportunities for shadowing, but do not establish benefits from clinical exposure; the paper also does not document benefits across the educational continuum. Page numbers were not provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [8] Kemzang J, Bekolo G, Jaunky S, Mathieu J, Constant H, Oguntala J, et al. Mentoring for admission and retention of Black socio-ethnic minorities in medicine: A scoping review. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2024;11:23821205241283805. https://doi.org/10.1177/23821205241283805. source

      The Results (Impact of mentoring; page unavailable) report benefits of mentoring for students seeking medical-school admission and for medical residents. The Results (Mentoring strategies and activities; page unavailable) also describe clinical observerships used to generate interest in medicine before admission. The review does not establish benefits of exposure to clinical environments across the educational continuum. (LLM, conf=0.85)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [9] Rinderknecht AB, Kouyate A, Teklu S, Hahn M. Antiracism in action: Development and outcomes of a mentorship program for premedical students who are underrepresented or historically excluded in medicine. Prev Chronic Dis. 2023;20:e220362. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.220362. source

      The Discussion reports improved access to mentorship and reduced barriers to medical-school applications for underrepresented or historically excluded premedical students. The Methods say mentees were connected to clinical research and vaccine-distribution volunteer opportunities, but the paper does not establish benefits from exposure to authentic clinical environments or document benefits across the educational continuum. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [10] Wekam V, Vance-Chalcraft HD. Investigating prior mentoring experiences of medical students and its perceived benefits. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2022;23(1):e00209–21. https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.00209-21. source

      The Introduction (page unavailable) describes benefits of mentoring for undergraduate, graduate, and medical students, supporting the mentorship portion across several educational stages. The paper does not establish benefits from exposure to authentic clinical environments; its Methods (page unavailable) focus on mentoring experiences and perceived career and psychosocial benefits. (LLM, conf=0.85)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    24% of medical students came from the top 5% of household earners.

    “At the extremes of the income distribution, 24% came from the top 5% of household earners, whereas only 6.1% came from the lowest income quintile [1].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [1] Shahriar AA, Puram VV, Miller JM, et al. Socioeconomic diversity of the matriculating US medical student body by race, ethnicity, and sex, 2017–2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e222621. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.2621. source
  • Study design and conductcitation

    The absence of a control group limits causal inference and attribution of observed outcomes directly to program participation.

    “The absence of a control group also reflects broader challenges in healthcare education outreach research, where most published evaluations lack matched comparison groups, limiting causal inference and attribution of observed outcomes directly to program participation [14].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [14] Jenkins E, Nardo JE, Salehi S. A systematic review of the 60-year literature: Effects of outreach programs in supporting historically marginalized and first-generation, low-income students in healthcare education. PLoS ONE. 2022;17(12):e0278453. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278453. source
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 28
  • May combine two claims. 23

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    6.1% of medical students came from the lowest income quintile.

    “At the extremes of the income distribution, 24% came from the top 5% of household earners, whereas only 6.1% came from the lowest income quintile [1].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [1] Shahriar AA, Puram VV, Miller JM, et al. Socioeconomic diversity of the matriculating US medical student body by race, ethnicity, and sex, 2017–2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e222621. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.2621. source

      The Results report that 24.0% of respondents who reported parental income came from the top 5% of households, and that the bottom three income quintiles were underrepresented. Neither the Results passages nor searches for the lowest quintile and 6.1% establish the claimed 6.1% figure. (LLM, conf=0.85)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Prior work has shown that even short-term clinical immersion programs can broaden students' perspectives on healthcare and strengthen confidence in their career aspirations.

    “Prior work has shown that even short-term clinical immersion programs can broaden students’ perspectives on healthcare and strengthen confidence in their career aspirations [12]”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [12] Weinlander E, Sams E, Khemani S, Jamal A, Srinivasan M. Exploring the breadth of medicine: 8-year outcomes of a brief clinical summer immersion for premedical students. BMC Med Educ. 2024;24:1387. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06301-5. source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Prior mentorship and pathway programs have reported sustained benefits, including continued mentor-mentee engagement and persistence on pre-health tracks.

    “prior mentorship and pathway programs have reported sustained benefits, including continued mentor-mentee engagement and persistence on pre-health tracks [13].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [13] Patel SI, Rodríguez P, Gonzales RJ. The implementation of an innovative high school mentoring program designed to enhance diversity and provide a pathway for future careers in healthcare related fields. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2015;2(4):395–402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-015-0086-y. source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Students most often highlighted experiential elements such as mock interviews and shadowing and described these activities as making the field of medicine more interesting and tangible.

    “Students most often highlighted experiential elements such as mock interviews and shadowing and described these activities as making the field of medicine more interesting and tangible.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Experiential learning and guided shadowing enhanced engagement and understanding.

    “Thematic analysis of the reflection session yielded four closely related themes that aligned with the interview guide: (1) experiential learning and guided shadowing enhanced engagement and understanding”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Several outcomes demonstrated large effect sizes, suggesting potentially meaningful impacts that warrant further evaluation in larger cohorts.

    “Several outcomes demonstrated large effect sizes, suggesting potentially meaningful impacts that warrant further evaluation in larger cohorts.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Participants described structural barriers that extended beyond the CMP itself, including lack of exposure, limited networking opportunities, uncertainty about the path to medicine, and financial concerns.

    “Participants described structural barriers that extended beyond the CMP itself, including lack of exposure, limited networking opportunities, uncertainty about the path to medicine, and financial concerns.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Students perceived persistent structural barriers and limited opportunities.

    “(4) students perceived persistent structural barriers and limited opportunities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Physician access and role modeling were valuable.

    “(3) physician access and role modeling were valuable”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The program, including the survey instrument, was piloted with a small group of students during the previous academic year.

    “The program, including the survey instrument, was piloted with a small group of students during the previous academic year.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Approximately 10% of medical students reported prior participation in high school premedical programming.

    “Among medical student respondents to the Matriculating Student Questionnaire, approximately 10% reported prior participation in middle school premedical programming and 10% in high school premedical programming, while 13% reported summer research experience during high school [3].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3] Association of American Medical Colleges. 2025 Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ) All Schools Summary Report. Washington (DC): Association of American Medical Colleges; 2025. Available from: https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/students-residents/report/matriculating-student-questionnaire-msq. Accessed 2026 May 28.

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Approximately 10% of medical students reported prior participation in middle school premedical programming.

    “Among medical student respondents to the Matriculating Student Questionnaire, approximately 10% reported prior participation in middle school premedical programming and 10% in high school premedical programming, while 13% reported summer research experience during high school [3].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3] Association of American Medical Colleges. 2025 Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ) All Schools Summary Report. Washington (DC): Association of American Medical Colleges; 2025. Available from: https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/students-residents/report/matriculating-student-questionnaire-msq. Accessed 2026 May 28.

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Data collection instruments were designed to align with the program's educational objectives.

    “Data collection instruments were designed to align with the program’s educational objectives.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Written informed consent was obtained from parents or legal guardians and written informed assent was obtained from student participants.

    “Written informed consent was obtained from parents or legal guardians and written informed assent was obtained from student participants.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Nearly two-thirds of medical students report deciding to pursue medicine before or during high school.

    “Nearly two-thirds of medical students report deciding to pursue medicine before or during high school.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3] Association of American Medical Colleges. 2025 Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ) All Schools Summary Report. Washington (DC): Association of American Medical Colleges; 2025. Available from: https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/students-residents/report/matriculating-student-questionnaire-msq. Accessed 2026 May 28.

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The survey item labeled "number of physician mentors" is interpreted as a self-reported indicator of physician access or available role models and should not be interpreted as proof of a formal longitudinal mentoring relationship.

    “The survey item labeled “number of physician mentors” is interpreted in this manuscript as a self-reported indicator of physician access or available role models; because the term was not formally defined within the survey, the item should not be interpreted as proof of a formal longitudinal mentoring relationship, but rather a subjective measure on the breadth of a students’ physician network.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Feedback from the pilot informed revisions to improve item clarity and alignment with curricular content.

    “Feedback from the pilot informed revisions to improve item clarity and alignment with curricular content.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Attendance at lectures and shadowing sessions was voluntary.

    “Because the program was extracurricular and offered no academic credit, attendance at lectures and shadowing sessions was voluntary.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch was used as a proxy for lower socioeconomic status.

    “Eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch, as designated by the school through the federal school meal program, was used as a proxy for lower socioeconomic status.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Mentorship in the health professions provides access to the implicit knowledge and cultural competencies that define the art of medicine.

    “In addition to boosting confidence and academic motivation, [4] mentorship in the health professions provides access to the implicit knowledge and cultural competencies that define the art of medicine [5].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5] Henry-Noel N, Bishop M, Gwede CK, Petkova E, Szumacher E. Mentorship in medicine and other health professions. J Cancer Educ. 2019;34(4):629–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-018-1360-6. source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and applicable institutional and federal guidelines for research involving human participants.

    “This study was approved by the Brown University Institutional Review Board (STUDY0000063: Clinical Mentorship Program) before data collection began and was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and applicable institutional and federal guidelines for research involving human participants.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    A total of 27 students completed the pre-program survey and 6 completed the post-program survey.

    “A total of 27 students completed the pre-program survey and 6 completed the post-program survey.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    13% of medical students reported summer research experience during high school.

    “Among medical student respondents to the Matriculating Student Questionnaire, approximately 10% reported prior participation in middle school premedical programming and 10% in high school premedical programming, while 13% reported summer research experience during high school [3].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3] Association of American Medical Colleges. 2025 Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ) All Schools Summary Report. Washington (DC): Association of American Medical Colleges; 2025. Available from: https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/students-residents/report/matriculating-student-questionnaire-msq. Accessed 2026 May 28.

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    These observations highlight the importance of creating accessible opportunities for students in underserved communities early in their educational trajectories.

    “These observations highlight the importance of creating accessible opportunities for students in underserved communities early in their educational trajectories.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds face structural barriers to entering medicine, including limited access to early clinical exposure, physician guidance, and professional networks.
    • Rests on an assumption: Medical school admission is predicated not only on academic ability, but also by financial resources, access to information and opportunity, and personal investment from a supportive network of family and mentors.
    • Rests on an assumption: Variability in school funding, enrichment programming, healthcare-related academic opportunities, and access to professional networks may contribute to unequal exposure to medicine as a career pathway, particularly among students enrolled in lower-resourced public schools.
    • Rests on an assumption: These patterns likely reflect broader socioeconomic differences in the educational and professional opportunities available across communities.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Participation was open to all students, with no academic or eligibility requirements for enrollment.

    “Participation was open to all students, with no academic or eligibility requirements for enrollment.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    This study was approved by the Brown University Institutional Review Board (STUDY0000063: Clinical Mentorship Program) before data collection began.

    “This study was approved by the Brown University Institutional Review Board (STUDY0000063: Clinical Mentorship Program) before data collection began and was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and applicable institutional and federal guidelines for research involving human participants.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    To strengthen trustworthiness, two reviewers independently read the transcript, generated initial codes, clustered codes into candidate themes, and resolved discrepancies through consensus discussion.

    “To strengthen trustworthiness, two reviewers independently read the transcript, generated initial codes, clustered codes into candidate themes, and resolved discrepancies through consensus discussion.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    These findings are consistent with the program's structure, which emphasized instruction, guided shadowing, and exposure to clinical environments.

    “These findings are consistent with the program’s structure, which emphasized instruction, guided shadowing, and exposure to clinical environments.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The survey item regarding number of physician mentors was not formally defined for respondents and may have captured a range of interpretations.

    “The survey item regarding number of physician mentors was also not formally defined for respondents and may have captured a range of interpretations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Their comments suggested increased clarity and openness toward medicine, even when survey measures of medical career motivation remained statistically unchanged.

    “Their comments suggested increased clarity and openness toward medicine, even when survey measures of medical career motivation remained statistically unchanged.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    These experiences made medicine feel more concrete and helped students connect classroom learning to clinical practice.

    “These experiences made medicine feel more concrete and helped students connect classroom learning to clinical practice.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    For these students, the CMP did not simply deliver content; it also addressed an access problem by creating experiences that many participants described as otherwise unavailable in their educational setting.

    “For these students, the CMP did not simply deliver content; it also addressed an access problem by creating experiences that many participants described as otherwise unavailable in their educational setting.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    These comments contextualized the program's perceived value and underscored why students viewed expanded opportunities as important.

    “These comments contextualized the program’s perceived value and underscored why students viewed expanded opportunities as important.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Surveys were anonymous and voluntary, so responses could not be matched at the individual level.

    “First, surveys were anonymous and voluntary, so responses could not be matched at the individual level.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The CMP should be interpreted as providing guided shadowing, physician access, and role modeling, with mentorship as an emerging or partial feature rather than a fully characterized longitudinal outcome.

    “Accordingly, the CMP should be interpreted as providing guided shadowing, physician access, and role modeling, with mentorship as an emerging or partial feature rather than a fully characterized longitudinal outcome.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given

    The lower post-program response rate was partly attributable to a school-wide end-of-year event that coincided with the final session, when the post-survey was administered.

    “The lower post-program response rate was partly attributable to a school-wide end-of-year event that coincided with the final session, when the post-survey was administered.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The qualitative findings were derived from a single end-of-program group reflection session and should be interpreted as descriptive rather than exhaustive.

    “Fourth, the qualitative findings were derived from a single end-of-program group reflection session and should be interpreted as descriptive rather than exhaustive.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The present findings support feasibility and short-term educational value, but do not establish long-term effects on college enrollment, persistence in pre-health pathways, or eventual entry into medicine.

    “The present findings support feasibility and short-term educational value, but do not establish long-term effects on college enrollment, persistence in pre-health pathways, or eventual entry into medicine.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Because enrollment was voluntary, many students likely entered the CMP with pre-existing interest in medicine.

    “Because enrollment was voluntary, many students likely entered the CMP with pre-existing interest in medicine.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study cannot determine how dose of exposure influenced outcomes, nor can it definitively explain why some students did not continue attending.

    “As a result, the study cannot determine how dose of exposure influenced outcomes, nor can it definitively explain why some students did not continue attending.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Participation in this after-school program was voluntary, and attendance across sessions was not systematically analyzed.

    “Second, participation in this after-school program was voluntary, and attendance across sessions was not systematically analyzed.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationown data

    Participants' comments about networking, limited school-based opportunities, cost, and uncertainty about the educational pathway also help situate the findings within a broader equity context.

    “Participants’ comments about networking, limited school-based opportunities, cost, and uncertainty about the educational pathway also help situate the findings within a broader equity context.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
42 of 42

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds face structural barriers to entering medicine, including limited access to early clinical exposure, physician guidance, and professional networks.

    “Students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds face structural barriers to entering medicine, including limited access to early clinical exposure, physician guidance, and professional networks.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Medical school admission is predicated not only on academic ability, but also by financial resources, access to information and opportunity, and personal investment from a supportive network of family and mentors.

    “Medical school admission is predicated not only on academic ability, but also by financial resources, access to information and opportunity, and personal investment from a supportive network of family and mentors.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Variability in school funding, enrichment programming, healthcare-related academic opportunities, and access to professional networks may contribute to unequal exposure to medicine as a career pathway, particularly among students enrolled in lower-resourced public schools.

    “Variability in school funding, enrichment programming, healthcare-related academic opportunities, and access to professional networks may contribute to unequal exposure to medicine as a career pathway, particularly among students enrolled in lower-resourced public schools.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    For students from underserved backgrounds, access to transient and longitudinal mentorship may both be limited.

    “For students from underserved backgrounds, access to transient and longitudinal mentorship may both be limited.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    These patterns likely reflect broader socioeconomic differences in the educational and professional opportunities available across communities.

    “These patterns likely reflect broader socioeconomic differences in the educational and professional opportunities available across communities.”
5 of 5

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Largest-effect-size claim omits the highest value

    Minor

    The note names anatomy and physiology knowledge (d = 1.144) and comfort interacting with physicians (d = 1.328) as having the largest effect sizes, but the table reports a larger effect size for physician mentors/contacts (d = 1.518).

1 of 1

Cites

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Related

Authors
Hunt, V. M., Cheng, J., de Lomba, W. C., & Warrier, S.
Affiliations
Brown University (US)
Corresponding author
Hunt, Victor M.
ORCID
Venue
BMC Medical Education
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2026-07-04
Volume
26
Issue
1
ISSN
1472-6920 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12909-026-09852-x
PMC
PMC13474693
OpenAlex
W7167342016
Semantic Scholar
3cee539d98bbf61ff7ed0bb55433607af34ec049
Cited by
0
References
12
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Medical Education (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Diversity and Career in Medicine
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Medical Education and Admissions
Keywords
high school students, low-income students, underrepresented students, clinical exposure, community-based medical education, academic motivation, clinical self-efficacy, access to physicians
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Career Choice, Clinical Competence, Education, Medical, Undergraduate, Female, Humans, Male, Mentors, Minority Groups, Rhode Island, Students, Medical, Program Evaluation

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-11-03.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-11-03.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

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