Abstract 004: Summary of MT2020+ Research Internship Progress from 2021 to 2023

Abstract

Introduction Mission Thrombectomy, established in 2016 by the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology, aims to enhance global accessibility to mechanical thrombectomy surgery for strokes caused by large vessel occlusion in the brain. High school students interested in exposure to global health have limited access to get exposure in this rapidly expanding area of public health. The MT2020+ student internship was designed in collaboration with MT2020+ to provide such an experience to US High School students. Students designed and carried out projects to raise stroke awareness among other high school students and communities while studying the barriers to stroke treatment. We report on this novel internship program's methodology, results, and outcomes. Methods The MT2020+ internship program followed a comprehensive framework. Three phases were implemented: Phase A involved secondary research, stakeholder identification, and the formation of a detailed survey and interview questions. Stakeholders included neurologists, neuro‐interventionalists, neuro‐radiologists, and members of stroke societies. Countries in the region of interest were categorized into three groups based on stroke and COVID‐19 data. A survey template was created in Phase B, and stakeholders were contacted for data collection. Interviews were conducted to delve deeper into survey responses. Phase C focused on analyzing the collected data, articulating the key barriers, and generating a written report. Interns also developed interventions to address key barriers identified during the research. Results The first cohort (2020) comprised 8 interns who investigated barriers to stroke treatment across different regions. The interns received survey responses and conducted interviews with stakeholders. Their research covered the U.S. & North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The outcomes varied, with different levels of engagement. One student developed an app in Peru to address transportation, educational, and rehabilitation barriers. The second cohort (2021) had 2 interns who focused on Latin America and Asia, working on rehabilitation apps. The third cohort (2022) included 4 interns studying Asia, Australia/New Zealand, North America/US, and Latin America. Their interventions ranged from creating stroke awareness clubs to organizing virtual conferences. Conclusion The MT2020+ student internship provided a novel opportunity for high school students to get exposure to global health implementation. The student research in this internship has contributed valuable insights into stroke treatment barriers and raised awareness among high school students worldwide.