Crafting the Future Doctor: Mentorship in the First Year of Medical School.

Background: The Clinically Reimagined Apprenticeship For Physician Training (CRAFT) program is a volunteer, student-run, clinical mentorship program that started in 2015 at an academic medical center in the Mid-Atlantic region. Clinical exposure during the first year of medical school may influence a student's decision to pursue internal medicine for their residency program of choice.Methods: A retrospective chart analysis of CRAFT program volunteers was conducted. First-year medical school students at an academic medical center in the Mid-Atlantic region (first-year classes of 2020 to 2022) who participated in the CRAFT program (N=77) were followed from first year until their medical school graduation. Information regarding first year mentor's specialty and student's match list data were collected.Results: Students (51%) who participated in CRAFT matched into the same specialty of medicine as their CRAFT program mentors (P=0.765, Chi Square Test). The top specialties represented included emergency medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, and surgery. Of students (23%) who chose mentors in internal medicine, 50% matched into internal medicine residency programs (P<0.0001, Chi Square Test).Conclusion: Clinical mentorship programs during the first year of medical school may be important for choosing future residency programs, leading to successful career goals. Timely engagement with mentors can be crucial in influencing career choices in the field of internal medicine.