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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2022; 49(02): 207-214
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1744418
Clinical Practice and Education
Original Article

Leadership Roles, Academic Appointments, and Scholarly Activity—Does a Fellowship after Plastic Surgery Training Make a Difference?

Adrienne N. Christopher
1   Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2   Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Viren Patel
1   Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3   Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Joseph A. Mellia
1   Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
4   Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
,
Martin P. Morris
1   Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Fortunay Diatta
3   Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Alexander I. Murphy
5   Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
,
John P. Fischer
1   Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Abstract

Background Fellowship training is becoming more popular in plastic surgery, with over half of residents pursuing advanced training. Here, we investigate how clinical and research fellowship training impacts career trajectory and scholastic achievement in academic plastic surgery.

Methods Plastic surgery faculty members, from programs recognized by the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons, were identified using institutional Web sites. Data extracted included faculty demographics, training history, academic positions, and research productivity. Continuous and categorical variables were compared using t-tests and chi-square, respectively.

Results In total, 949 faculty members were included, with 657 (69%) having completed fellowship training. Integrated program residents were more likely to complete a fellowship when compared with independent residents (p < 0.0001). Fellowship trained faculty were more likely to have graduated from a higher ranked residency program, in terms of both overall and research reputation (p = 0.005 and p = 0.016, respectively). When controlling for years in practice, there was no difference found in number of publications, Hirsch index (h-index), or National Institutes of Health funding between faculty between the two cohorts (p > 0.05). In a subanalysis comparing hand, craniofacial, microsurgery, and research fellowships, those who completed a research fellowship had higher h-indices and were more likely to reach full professor status (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Fellowship training had no effect on being promoted to Chief/Chair of departments (p = 0.16).

Conclusion Fellowship training is common among academic plastic surgeons. In this study, both clinical and research fellowships were associated with various aspects of academic success. However, fellowship training alone did not affect attainment of leadership positions.

Keywords

academic - plastic surgery - fellowship - research - subspecialty - leadership

Author Contributions

Conceptualization: A.N.C., V.P., J.A.M., M.P.M., F.D., A.I.M., J.P.F. Data curation: A.N.C, V.P., J.A.M., M.P.M., F.D., A.I.M. Formal analysis: A.N.C., V.P., J.A.M., M.P.M., F.D. Methodology: A.N.C., V.P., J.A.M. Project administration: A.N.C. Visualization: A.N.C., J.P.F. Writing - original draft: A.N.C., V.P., J.P.F. Writing - review and editing: A.N.C., V.P., J.A.M., M.P.M., F.D., A.I.M., J.P.F. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.




Publication History

Article published online:
06 April 2022

© 2022. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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