Pre-professional mentorship of medical university students as an element of regional healthcare workforce policy: a non-randomized uncontrolled before–after study, 2022–2025

BACKGROUND: The shortage of physicians and the high turnover of young specialists remain key challenges for regional healthcare systems. Federal Law No. 424-FZ of November 17, 2025, which establishes mandatory mentorship for medical graduates, highlights the need for validated organizational models.

AIM: To provide a scientific rationale, develop, and evaluate an organizational model of medical mentorship for medical university students within the regional healthcare system (using the Nizhny Novgorod and Vladimir regions as a case).

METHODS: A non-randomized uncontrolled before-after study with an additional cross-sectional survey of participants was conducted in 2025 at Privolzhsky Research Medical University and medical organizations in the Nizhny Novgorod and Vladimir regions (observation period: 2022–2025). The study population included students enrolled in targeted training programs (n > 1100), physician-mentors (n > 370), and more than 80 medical organizations. Data sources included official reports of the two regional ministries of health, internal registries of medical organizations, and an anonymous questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed in Microsoft Excel; differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: An organizational mentorship model was developed and integrated into the educational process as an elective course. The program covered 1191 students; more than 370 physician-mentors were trained. The proportion of contract terminations with penalty obligations among residency graduates decreased from 17.5% (2022) to 8.9% (2025). Overall satisfaction with the mentorship process was reported by 86% of respondents. A strong positive correlation was observed between the proportion of residents enrolled in the mentorship program and the rate of fulfilment of targeted training contracts (r ≥ 0.92).

CONCLUSION: The mentorship model in the physician-mentor–student format was associated with improved fulfillment of targeted training contracts and with positive professional adaptation outcomes among participants in the Nizhny Novgorod and Vladimir regions. The main limitations are the absence of a formal control group and the multifactorial nature of workforce processes.