Academic aspirations of residents

Academic emergency medicine in United States medical schools

OBJECTIVE

To determine the current standing of academic units of emergency medicine in allopathic medical schools and to measure the attitudes of medical school deans toward the specialty.

DESIGN

An investigator-blinded survey of the senior deans of 123 allopathic medical schools in the United States.

RESULTS

Ninety-four of 123 (76%) survey instruments were completed. Fifty-six medical schools reported having academic units of emergency medicine (five divisions of the dean's office, 16 full departments, 35 divisions/sections of other departments). Twenty-five of 56 units were reported to be academically less productive when compared with other specialty academic units of similar size. When overall mission (academic plus clinical/administrative) was considered, 46 of 56 units were reported as adequately fulfilling or exceeding mission expectations. Thirty-eight schools reported not having an academic unit of emergency medicine. Only ten of the 38 reported have no institutional support or plans for academic emergency medicine.

CONCLUSION

Medical school deans are generally satisfied with the clinical/administrative performance of academic emergency medicine units but are less so with academic productivity. Despite the small numbers of full departments and disparate status of established units, it is noteworthy that only ten of the 94 respondents to this survey reported no support whatsoever for academic emergency medicine.

Factors influencing resident career choices in emergency medicine

OBJECTIVE

To assess the attitudes of residents in emergency medicine regarding a career in academics.

DESIGN

A 22-item questionnaire was administered to residents in conjunction with the yearly American Board of Emergency Medicine inservice examination. Demographic information and factors influencing career intent were elicited. Respondents were classified by intent on a career in emergency medicine. A three-way analysis of variance was used to address group differences for eight specific factors impacting on career decision. Chi-square analysis was used to address questions involving relationships among variables with dichotomous or categorical responses.

RESULTS

The survey was distributed to 1,654 residents, and 1,238 (75%) completed the questionnaire. Motivating factors demonstrating significant differences between those residents planning an academic career and those not interested in academe were a desire to do research, desire to teach, desire to make a contribution to medicine, and exposure to role models, with less emphasis on the need for free time for other interests and less concern regarding practice location. More than 80% of those not going into academic emergency medicine believed they were adequately exposed to research in residency compared with 65% of those intent on a career in academe (P less than .01). Research in medical school, residency, and authorship of a research paper were significantly more prevalent for those residents desiring a career in academe (P less than .01). Twenty-six percent of residents responded that their role models for research were less than adequate. Seventeen percent of residents intend to take fellowship training. The most popular fields for fellowships were toxicology (25%), emergency medical services (21%), pediatrics (15%), and research (9%).

CONCLUSION

The results of this survey address attitudes among residents toward a career in academic emergency medicine. Factors such as motivation, role models, and exposure to research may help academicians plan strategies to meet the future needs of academic emergency medicine.