Predictors of an academic career among fellowship-trained spinal neurosurgeons

Author(s):  
Adham M. Khalafallah ◽  
Adrian E. Jimenez ◽  
Nathan A. Shlobin ◽  
Collin J. Larkin ◽  
Debraj Mukherjee ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE Although fellowship training is becoming increasingly common in neurosurgery, it is unclear which factors predict an academic career trajectory among spinal neurosurgeons. In this study, the authors sought to identify predictors associated with academic career placement among fellowship-trained neurological spinal surgeons. METHODS Demographic data and bibliometric information on neurosurgeons who completed a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education between 1983 and 2019 were gathered, and those who completed a spine fellowship were identified. Employment was denoted as academic if the hospital where a neurosurgeon worked was affiliated with a neurosurgical residency program; all other positions were denoted as nonacademic. A logistic regression model was used for multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS A total of 376 fellowship-trained spinal neurosurgeons were identified, of whom 140 (37.2%) held academic positions. The top 5 programs that graduated the most fellows in the cohort were Cleveland Clinic, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Miami, Barrow Neurological Institute, and Northwestern University. On multivariate analysis, increased protected research time during residency (OR 1.03, p = 0.044), a higher h-index during residency (OR 1.12, p < 0.001), completing more than one clinical fellowship (OR 2.16, p = 0.024), and attending any of the top 5 programs that graduated the most fellows (OR 2.01, p = 0.0069) were independently associated with an academic career trajectory. CONCLUSIONS Increased protected research time during residency, a higher h-index during residency, completing more than one clinical fellowship, and attending one of the 5 programs graduating the most fellowship-trained neurosurgical spinal surgeons independently predicted an academic career. These results may be useful in identifying and advising trainees interested in academic spine neurosurgery.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adham M. Khalafallah ◽  
Adrian E. Jimenez ◽  
Justin M. Caplan ◽  
Cameron G. McDougall ◽  
Judy Huang ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEAlthough previous studies have explored factors that predict an academic career among neurosurgery residents in general, such predictors have yet to be determined within specific neurosurgical subspecialties. The authors report on predictors they identified as correlating with academic placement among fellowship-trained vascular neurosurgeons.METHODSA database was created that included all physicians who graduated from ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education)–accredited neurosurgery residency programs between 1960 and 2018 using publicly available online data. Neurosurgeons who completed either open vascular or endovascular fellowships were identified. Subsequent employment of vascular or endovascular neurosurgeons in academic centers was determined. A position was considered academic if the hospital of employment was affiliated with a neurosurgery residency program; all other positions were considered non-academic. Bivariate analyses were conducted using Fisher’s exact test or the Mann-Whitney U-test, and multivariate analysis was performed using a logistic regression model.RESULTSA total of 83 open vascular neurosurgeons and 115 endovascular neurosurgeons were identified. In both cohorts, the majority of neurosurgeons were employed in academic positions after training. In bivariate analysis, only 2 factors were significantly associated with a career in academic neurosurgery for open vascular neurosurgeons: 1) an h-index of ≥ 2 during residency (OR 3.71, p = 0.016), and 2) attending a top 10 residency program based on U.S. News and World Report rankings (OR 4.35, p = 0.030). In bivariate analysis, among endovascular neurosurgeons, having an h-index of ≥ 2 during residency (OR 4.35, p = 0.0085) and attending a residency program affiliated with a top 10 U.S. News and World Report medical school (OR 2.97, p = 0.029) were significantly associated with an academic career. In multivariate analysis, for both open vascular and endovascular neurosurgeons, an h-index of ≥ 2 during residency was independently predictive of an academic career. Attending a residency program affiliated with a top 10 U.S. News and World Report medical school independently predicted an academic career among endovascular neurosurgeons only.CONCLUSIONSThe authors report that an h-index of ≥ 2 during residency predicts pursuit of an academic career among vascular and endovascular neurosurgeons. Additionally, attendance of a residency program affiliated with a top research medical school independently predicts an academic career trajectory among endovascular neurosurgeons. This result may be useful to identify and mentor residents interested in academic vascular neurosurgery.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (29) ◽  
pp. 3932-3938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leora Horn ◽  
Elizabeth Koehler ◽  
Jill Gilbert ◽  
David H. Johnson

Purpose Factors that influence hematology-oncology fellows' choice of academic medicine as a career are not well defined. We undertook a survey of hematology-oncology fellows training at cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) to understand the factors fellows consider when making career decisions. Methods Program directors at all NCI and NCCN cancer centers were invited to participate in the study. For the purpose of analysis, fellows were grouped into three groups on the basis of interest in an academic career. Demographic data were tested with the Kruskal-Wallis test and χ2 test, and nondemographic data were tested by using the multiscale bootstrap method. Results Twenty-eight of 56 eligible fellowship programs participated, and 236 fellows at participating institutions responded (62% response rate). Approximately 60% of fellows graduating from academic programs in the last 5 years chose academic career paths. Forty-nine percent of current fellows ranked an academic career as extremely important. Fellows choosing an academic career were more likely to have presented and published their research. Additional factors associated with choosing an academic career included factors related to mentorship, intellect, and practice type. Fellows selecting nonacademic careers prioritized lifestyle in their career decision. Conclusion Recruitment into academic medicine is essential for continued progress in the field. Our data suggest that fewer than half the current fellows training at academic centers believe a career in academic medicine is important. Efforts to improve retention in academics should include focusing on mentorship, research, and career development during fellowship training and improving the image of academic physicians.


2021 ◽  
pp. 000348942110043
Author(s):  
Austin L. Johnson ◽  
Adam Corcoran ◽  
Matthew Ferrell ◽  
Bradley S. Johnson ◽  
Scott E. Mann ◽  
...  

Objective: Scholastic activity through research involvement is a fundamental aspect of a physician’s training and may have a significant influence on future academic success. Here, we explore publication rates before, during, and after otolaryngology residency training and whether publication efforts correlate with future academic achievement. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included a random sample of 50 otolaryngology residency programs. From these programs, we assembled a list of residents graduating from the years in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Using SCOPUS, PubMed, and Google Scholar, we compiled the publications for each graduate, and data were extracted in an independent, double-blinded fashion. Results: We included 32 otolaryngology residency programs representing 249 residents in this analysis. Graduates published a mean of 1.3 (SD = 2.7) articles before residency, 3.5 (SD = 4.3) during residency, and 5.3 (SD = 9.3) after residency. Residents who pursued a fellowship had more total publications ( t247 = −6.1, P < .001) and more first author publications ( t247 = −5.4, P < .001) than residents without fellowship training. Graduates who chose a career in academic medicine had a higher number of mean total publications ( t247 = −8.2, P < .001) and first author publications ( t247 = −7.9, P < .001) than those who were not in academic medicine. There was a high positive correlation between residency program size and publications during residency ( r = 0.76). Conclusion: Research productivity correlated with a number of characteristics such as future fellowship training, the pursuit of an academic career, and overall h-index in this study.


2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 487-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irving J. Sherman ◽  
Ryan M. Kretzer ◽  
Rafael J. Tamargo

✓ Walter Edward Dandy (1886–1946) began his surgical training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1910 and joined the faculty in 1918. During the next 28 years at Johns Hopkins, Dandy established a neurosurgery residency training program that was initially part of the revolutionary surgical training system established by William S. Halsted but eventually became a separate entity. Dandy’s residents were part of his “Brain Team,” a highly efficient organization that allowed Dandy to perform over 1000 operations per year, not counting ventriculograms. This team also provided rigorous training in the Halsted mold for the neurosurgical residents. Although exacting and demanding, Dandy was universally admired by his residents and staff. This article describes Dandy’s neurosurgical residency program at Johns Hopkins, and provides personal recollections of training under Walter Dandy.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agoston Mihalik ◽  
Fabio S. Ferreira ◽  
Maria J. Rosa ◽  
Michael Moutoussis ◽  
Gabriel Ziegler ◽  
...  

AbstractUnderstanding how variations in dimensions of psychometrics, IQ and demographics relate to changes in brain connectivity during the critical developmental period of adolescence and early adulthood is a major challenge. This has particular relevance for mental health disorders where a failure to understand these links might hinder the development of better diagnostic approaches and therapeutics. Here, we investigated this question in 306 adolescents and young adults (14-24y, 25 clinically depressed) using a multivariate statistical framework, based on canonical correlation analysis (CCA). By linking individual functional brain connectivity profiles to self-report questionnaires, IQ and demographic data we identified two distinct modes of covariation. The first mode mapped onto an externalization/internalization axis and showed a strong association with sex. The second mode mapped onto a well-being/distress axis independent of sex. Interestingly, both modes showed an association with age. Crucially, the changes in functional brain connectivity associated with changes in these phenotypes showed marked developmental effects. The findings point to a role for the default mode, frontoparietal and limbic networks in psychopathology and depression.


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Armenti

This research involved in-depth interviews with nineteen women professors, drawn from across various faculties and ranks at one Canadian university, and was intended to explore the interconnections between the women's personal and professional lives. The women in this study chose to combine having children with an academic career. Most of them depicted their career trajectory as a lifelong challenge, one that was both fulfilling and prestigious. In contrast, the women reported a number of obstacles in their career paths that served to prevent them from gaining full membership in academic life. This study probes the nature of such obstacles that are grouped into two categories: the child-related time crunch and the career-related time crunch. As a result of these obstacles, the women encountered childbearing/childrearing problems, research dilemmas, a willingness to leave the academy, and denial of tenure and promotion. Findings call for a restructuring of academic careers in order to effectively accommodate women with children in the profession.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine DeAngelis ◽  
Ann Duggan ◽  
Frank Oski

To evaluate the effectiveness of our program in meeting the subsequent career needs of our graduates and to describe their professional experiences as a microcosm of pediatrics, a survey was completed of the 419 pediatricians who had completed the Harriet Lane Residency Program at The Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1960 and 1984. Overall, the 326 respondents found the program to have been effective in the areas they deemed appropriate to be taught in residency years. In decreasing order, the chief resident, fellow house officers, and fulltime faculty were rated to have had the greatest teaching effectiveness. The women respondents were less likely to be married (76% vs 89%), had fewer children on average (1.2 vs 2.31), missed more work, and were more likely to enter postresidency training (89% vs 78%) than the men. Of all respondents, 73% reported being certain of their career goals during residency and 77% of those reported a reasonable similarity with current positions. More than 93% reported being satisfied with their current careers, and 87% would still choose pediatrics. They are generally well reimbursed financially, with academician salaries matching those of private practitioners 10 years after completing residency and surpassing them, slightly, thereafter. This information provides much food for thought in preparing tomorrow's pediatricians.


Researchers suggest that the use of h-index for the purpose of the evaluation of research performance, its dependencies like the academic career, and the subject field of his/her publications should always be considered and taken into account for fruitful results. Also, h-index should be complemented with its variants to reduce its shortcomings. In the future, researchers should focus on testing the validity and applicability of the existing h-index variants rather than developing the new ones. Further, it is not possible to reflect the scientist's or researcher's academic contribution merely in terms of numerical values. The quantities to signify research quality should be considered with a grain of salt.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-193
Author(s):  
Christine Zayouna ◽  
Jessica El-Asmar ◽  
Ahmad Abu-Haniyeh ◽  
Shailee Shah ◽  
Karam Al-Issa ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 470-470
Author(s):  
Roberto Iacovelli ◽  
Michele Milella ◽  
Matteo Santoni ◽  
Giuseppe Di Lorenzo ◽  
Cinzia Ortega ◽  
...  

470 Background: Outcomes of pts treated with three TTs for mRCC have not been well characterized. Survival data as well as existing prognostic criteria in this population were evaluated. Methods: Pts with clear-cell mRCC who received 3 TTs were included. A questionnaire was send to main Italian centers involved in the treatment of mRCC. Demographic data, history of RCC, type, and length of first-, second-, and third-lines were collected. Values of serum Hb, PLT, neutrophils, LDH and Ca, ECOG-PS, previous RT and number of metastatic sites >2 before the start of third-line were evaluated. Cleveland Clinic, French, Heng, and MSKCC scores and relative survival were calculated. Results: Following the screening of 1,905 pts, 252 (13%) with 3 TTs were identified. The median age was 60 yrs (range 52-68), 73% were male, 96% had nephrectomy and 38% were metastatic at diagnosis. At first-line, the Motzer class was good, intermediate, and poor in 48%, 47%, and 5% of pts, respectively. The median OS from the start of third-line was 14.3 mos (95%CI, 10.1–18.6). Rate and survival by prognostic group according to each classification are reported in table below. When prognostic factors were considered separately, at the univariate analysis ECOG-PS≥2, Hb<LLN, LDH>1.5ULN, Ca>ULN; PLT>ULN; Neu>ULN, and sites of disease >2 had negative prognostic role. Multivariate analysis shows an independent prognostic role only for ECOG-PS≥2 (HR: 1.8; 95%CI: 1.1–2.8), Hb<LLN (HR: 1.8; 95%CI: 1.2–2.6) and neu>ULN (HR: 2.1; 95%CI: 1.2–3.8). Pts were stratified in 3 groups according to the presence of none, 1 or ≥2 prognostic factors. The median OS was 20.3, 13.6 and 7.8 months, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusions: Current nomograms are able to predict survival in patients with mRCC before the third-line with TT. Neutrophils, hemoglobin and ECOG-PS were the most important prognostic factors. [Table: see text]


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document