AUTHOR=Hutchins David , Berkenstock Meghan K. 

TITLE=Financial barriers for medical students attending ophthalmology conferences: an analysis of registration fees

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1708446

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2025.1708446

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=PurposeOphthalmology conferences are vital for knowledge exchange, networking, and professional development in ophthalmology. However, financial barriers may limit medical students’ participation. This study assesses the costs associated with attending major United States conferences and examines disparities in funding availability based on institutional and conference-specific factors.DesignA descriptive cross-sectional analysis was conducted using publicly available data.Subjects, participants, or controlsNot applicable; this study analyzed publicly available data on conferences and institutions.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted to assess conference-related expenses from January to December 2024. Data on registration fees, travel and accommodation costs, and available travel grants were collected from official conference websites and the publicly available websites of U.S. allopathic medical schools. Data were organized and analyzed descriptively using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA), with comparisons made between general and subspecialty conferences and between virtual and in-person participation to illustrate cost variability.ResultsConference registration fees varied substantially, with a mean in-person registration cost of $670.83 (SD = $391.65), ranging from $0 to $1,100. Virtual fees averaged $541.67 (SD = $166.46), ranging from $400 to $725. Student discounts were inconsistently offered, and some conferences provided no financial relief. Travel and lodging added a significant expense. Institutional travel stipends ranged from $0 to $2,500 (mean = $428.33, SD = $144.83), often falling short of total costs.ConclusionMedical students encounter considerable out-of-pocket costs when participating in ophthalmology conferences. Addressing these financial barriers through expanded travel funding, standardized student discounts, and reduced registration fees could enhance equity in access to professional development and foster greater inclusion within the field.