From Poster to Plane Ticket: Student-Reported Needs for Research Conference Funding at University of Colorado School of Medicine

This paper evaluates whether current Medical Student Council (MSC) travel reimbursements at CUSOM meet students' needs. Using a REDCap survey (n=32) conducted Feb–Apr 2025 and price checks of major society meetings, it shows that 41% of students forgo applying because costs remain prohibitive; students can contribute about $255 out of pocket against typical budgets of $1,789 for a one-day trip (registration $410, airfare $225, hotel $264) and roughly $898 per day for multi-day meetings. National data on rising training costs, residency competitiveness, and shifting federal loan policies provide context for the financial strain. The paper recommends holding in-state support at $200, increasing out-of-state support to $550–$800, creating a dedicated reimbursement line, and streamlining reimbursement processes.