Source
Department of Dermatology, Marshfield Clinic, and Division of Biostatistics, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, Wis, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To quantify interest in an academic career at the dermatology resident and residency applicant level.
DESIGN:
Cross-sectional survey.
PARTICIPANTS:
Dermatology residents attending a basic science course and residency applicants applying to a single residency program.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Self-reported level of interest in an academic dermatology career, reasons for losing interest in academics, and area of desired primary academic contribution.
RESULTS:
One hundred nine of 230 dermatology applicants and 130 of 190 dermatology residents completed the survey. Seventy-nine applicants (72.5%) and 48 residents (36.9%) were interested in an academic career. Thirty-three of 47 residents (70.2%) and 63 of 79 applicants (79.8%) interested in an academic career hoped to make their primary academic contribution as teacher-clinicians, while only 7 residents (14.9%) and 15 applicants (19.0%) planned to primarily contribute through basic or clinical research. Thirty-eight resident respondents (29.2%) reported losing interest in academics for the following primary reasons: bureaucracy, 24 (63.2%); salary differential/financial issues, 20 (52.6%); lack of effective mentorship, role model, or professional guidance, 19 (50.0%); and location or practice environment, 10 (26.3%).
CONCLUSIONS:
Many residents report losing interest in pursuing a career in academic dermatology. Many reasons for this are not easy to correct. However, half of those residents primarily lose interest because of a lack of mentors, role models, and career guidance. Methods to improve this perception and experience should be sought. Strategies should also be developed to cultivate future teacher-clinicians, where most of the interest lies.