(1114) Understanding Attitudes and Perceptions Towards Otolaryngology Among Pre-Medical Students

Introduction: Early exposure to medical specialties shapes career interests among students, yet otolaryngology remains underrepresented in early training pipelines. This study assessed pre-medical students’ attitudes, perceptions, and access to exposure and mentorship in otolaryngology to identify gaps that may affect specialty consideration.

Methods: An online survey was administered to students registered to attend a virtual otolaryngology exposure symposium. Participants included adult pre-medical students from diverse geographic backgrounds. The survey assessed attitudes toward otolaryngology, access to exposure and mentorship, and perceptions of diversity, work-life balance, and career feasibility using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree). Agreement was defined as “somewhat agree” or “strongly agree”. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

Results: A total of 342 students completed the survey. Most identified as female (58.5%) and non-Hispanic (74.9%). The most common racial backgrounds were Asian (30.5%), White or Caucasian (27.9%), and Black or African American (25.3%). Academic levels varied from college freshmen to college graduates. Participants were from 13 countries and 37 U.S. states and regions, spanning 4 continents. While most students felt capable of pursuing a career in otolaryngology (71%), fewer reported access to shadowing (35%) or mentorship (32%). Although 61% perceived the field as supportive of women and individuals underrepresented in medicine (URiM), exposure to female and URiM otolaryngologists was limited (21-33%) . Students recognized the specialty’s positive impact on patient quality of life (87%) and job security (72%), but fewer expressed confidence in work-life balance (44-48%) and familiarity with daily responsibilities and subspecialties was low (27-30%).

Conclusions: Pre-medical students expressed interest in otolaryngology but reported limited exposure and mentorship. These findings highlight the need for early, structured student outreach to improve awareness, representation, and access within the specialty.