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Career Plans of Graduating Independent Plastic Surgery Trainees in 2015: Impact of Three- versus Two-Year Training
Marilyn Ng, MD; Shayda Mirhaidari, MD; Douglas S. Wagner, MD
Akron City Hospital
2016-02-01
Presenter: Marilyn Ng, MD
Affidavit:
I certify that the material proposed for presentation in this abstract has not been published in any scientific journal or previously presented at a major meeting. The program director is responsible for making a statement within the confines of the box below specific to how much of the work on this project represents the original work of the resident. All authors/submitters of each abstract should discuss this with their respective program director for accurate submission of information as well as the program director's approval for inclusion of his/her electronic signature.
Director Name: Douglas S. Wagner
Author Category: Fellow Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: Breast (Aesthetic and Recon.)
Background:
The training environment has changed with increased duration of independent plastic surgery training. Little is known whether trends in subspecialty training and career decisions regarding practice type remain similar among graduates after 2-year versus 3-year independent residency. These issues have the potential to affect career planning. The authors also re-evaluated these factors between integrated, combined and independent programs.
Methods:
A survey regarding factors influencing career plans was administered to current and past plastic surgery graduates through email distribution to program directors and American Society of Plastic Surgery directory members (2009- 2015).
Results:
There were 210 respondents of which 42% were from independent programs (2-year, n=64; 3-year, n=25). Mean age of 2-year graduates was greater than 3-year trainees (43.6 vs 37.6 year, p<0.001). There were no differences between 2- and 3-year trainees seeking fellowship training (p=0.87) or the practice type (p=0.21). The majority of all independent trainees wished to enter private practice regardless of training duration. In general, there was a bimodal distribution of educational debt. Independent of age, factors such as current resident in training (OR 2.82, CI 1.17-6.81, p<0.22) and desiring an academic practice (OR 4.24, CI 2.15-8.37, P<0.001) were predictive of future subspecialization, whereas private practice was predictive of no further fellowship (OR 0.58, CI0.38-0.89, p=0.011).
Conclusions:
No difference was demonstrated between 2- and 3-year independent trainees in practice types or fellowship training. Desiring academia compared to private practice is predictive of fellowship participation independent of age.
