Blueprints for Discovery: The Anatomy of a Global Medical Student Research Conference
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2025.3945Keywords:
Conference, AnatomyAbstract
Medical student research conferences are emerging as a critical platform to bridge the accessibility gap in early research training, foster collaboration, and enhance professional development. This editorial draws upon the experience of the International Journal of Medical Students (IJMS) in organizing the World Conference of Medical Student Research (WCMSR), an annual global, student-led virtual event. Research involvement is increasingly expected in residency applications, yet barriers such as perceived complexity, lack of mentorship, and limited opportunities hinder student engagement. The WCMSR offers a model for overcoming these challenges by providing medical students with roles as presenters, reviewers, organizers, and moderators, transforming conferences into experiential learning spaces. The article outlines essential components of planning, including defining conference vision and scope, forming a multidisciplinary organizing team, establishing transparent abstract review processes, and structuring programs that balance academic sessions with networking and wellness. Considerations for in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats are discussed, emphasizing inclusivity, affordability, and the logistical demands of each. Promotion strategies highlight the importance of social media, partnerships, and co-branding to maximize outreach. The editorial also stresses the role of clear evaluation criteria, awards, and post-conference dissemination to ensure fairness, recognition, and visibility of student research. Ultimately, student-led conferences like the WCMSR demonstrate how small-scale, well-structured initiatives can amplify medical student voices, build leadership and teamwork skills, and inspire future physician-scientists. By sharing these insights, the authors aim to provide a practical blueprint for peers worldwide to design similar conferences, advancing research accessibility and fostering a culture of global scholarly exchange.
Metrics
References
Mokhtari B, Badalzadeh R, Ghaffarifar S. The next generation of physician-researchers: undergraduate medical students’ and residents’ attitudes, challenges, and approaches towards addressing them. BMC Med Educ 24, 1313 (2024).
Hauss K. What are the social and scientific benefits of participating at academic conferences? Insights from a survey among doctoral students and postdocs in Germany. Res Eval. 2020;rvaa018.
Emory University. Planning your conference. Atlanta (GA): Emory University. Available from: https://conferences.emory.edu/planning/index.html. Cited September 19, 2025.
Etzion, D., Gehman, J., & Davis, G. F. (2021). Reimagining academic conferences: Toward a federated model of conferencing. Management Learning, 53(2), 350-362.
Chua AZ, Lo DY, Ho WH, Koh YQ, Lim DS, Tam JK, et al. The effectiveness of a shared conference experience in improving undergraduate medical and nursing students’ attitudes towards inter-professional education in an Asian country: a before and after study. BMC Med Educ 15, 233 (2015).
Maggio LA, Artino AR, Watling CJ, Driessen EW, O'Brien BC. Exploring researchers’ perspectives on authorship decision making. Acad Med. 2019;94(12):1914–20.
Olthuis G, Leget C, Dekkers W. The role of student conferences in professional development: An exploratory study. Med Educ Online. 2022;27(1):205–12.
Fisher JW, Trautner BW. Maximizing the academic conference experience: Tips for your career toolkit. J Grad Med Educ. 2022;14(2):144–148.
Chua WJ, Cheong C, Tan K, et al. Impact of student-led medical conferences on learning and professional identity: A cross-sectional study. Med Teach. 2015;37(4):348–53.
Zaharatos J, O’Brien C, Weston D, et al. Student-led conferences as a platform for leadership and professional growth. BMC Med Educ. 2023;23:112.
Shah S, Diwan S, Kohan L, Rosenblum D, Gharibo C, Soin A. The technological impact of COVID-19 on the future of education and health care delivery. Pain Physician. 2020;23(4S):S367–80.
Guay J, Bishop C, Williams R, et al. Publication outcomes of conference abstracts presented at anesthesiology meetings: A systematic review. Can J Anaesth. 2020;67(8):1085–94.
Mookherjee S, Ranji SR, O’Sullivan PS. Beyond publishing: the importance of dissemination in medical education. J Grad Med Educ. 2013;5(4):559–560.
Castro MABE, de Almeida RLM, Lucchetti ALG, Tibiriçá SHC, da Silva Ezequiel O, Lucchetti G. The Use of Feedback in Improving the Knowledge, Attitudes and Skills of Medical Students: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Med Sci Educ. 2021;31(6):2093-2104.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Chloe Carrington , Mihai-Gabriel Zaiț, Hana Kabil, Moses Stefanus, Elaine Liang, Sajjad Ahmed Khan, Francisco Javier Bonilla-Escobar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
- Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
- The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
- Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site; with the understanding that the above condition can be waived with permission from the Author and that where the Work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license.
- The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
- Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
- The Author represents and warrants that:
- the Work is the Author’s original work;
- the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
- the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
- the Work has not previously been published;
- the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
- the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
- The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from the Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.
Enforcement of copyright
The IJMS takes the protection of copyright very seriously.
If the IJMS discovers that you have used its copyright materials in contravention of the license above, the IJMS may bring legal proceedings against you seeking reparation and an injunction to stop you using those materials. You could also be ordered to pay legal costs.
If you become aware of any use of the IJMS' copyright materials that contravenes or may contravene the license above, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org
Infringing material
If you become aware of any material on the website that you believe infringes your or any other person's copyright, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org
