Bridging the gap: the role of student conferences in advancing sport and exercise medicine in the medical school curricula

BACKGROUND: Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is an expanding specialty yet remains under-represented in medical school curricula. Persistent barriers limit medical students’ understanding of SEM and awareness of career pathways. Student-led conferences may address these gaps by providing targeted exposure and early engagement. This study evaluated the impact of a national, student-led SEM conference on delegates’ knowledge, preparedness, and perceptions of SEM across UK medical schools. METHODS: The 2024 National Undergraduate SEM Conference was hosted by University College London and the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health. Seventy-three delegates from sixteen UK medical schools completed pre- and post-conference questionnaires. Responses were rated on a 5-point Likert scale and analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Free-text data was collected and underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: Significant improvements (p < 0.0001) were seen in awareness of SEM career pathways (+ 55.7%), preparedness for a SEM career (+ 46.2%), understanding of SEM (+ 44.4%), and awareness of barriers to accessing careers in SEM (+ 41.4%). Interest in SEM also increased (p = 0.0034). 86% of delegates wanted more SEM-related opportunities in medical school; 87% felt current SEM curriculum coverage was inadequate; and 70% felt SEM to be under-supported by medical schools in content exposure and opportunity. Qualitative themes highlighted the need for greater clinical exposure, mentoring, and student-led opportunities. CONCLUSION: A one-day, national, student-led SEM conference significantly improved delegates’ understanding, sense of preparedness, and career awareness, while identifying curriculum deficiencies. Through the outcomes of its practical workshops and lectures, and its examination of systemic barriers to entry, this national conference extends prior single-centre findings. Student-led initiatives offer a scalable, low-cost approach for enhancing SEM education of medical students by supplementing educational gaps in the medical school curriculum. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not Applicable.