Defining Predictors Of Academic Productivity In Plastic Surgery Residency
Victoria A. Wickenheisser, MD, Sonali Biswas, MS, Caitlin Marks, MD, Yisong Geng, PhD, MBA, Brett T. Phillips, MD, MBA.
Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Purpose: Research is a valued component of applications to plastic surgery residency. This study aims to compare the academic productivity levels of plastic surgery residency graduates based on their pre- and post-residency experiences.
Methods: Integrated plastic surgery residents graduating in 2019 and 2020 were identified. Metrics of interest were collected and descriptive statistics were completed along with linear regressions to evaluate the impact of these on academic productivity.
Results: A total of 221 residents were included from the classes of 2019 (82.6%) and 2020 (92%) (Table 1). Dedicated research time during medical school was the only factor related to a significant increase in number publications at the end of residency (Table 2). For h-index calculated at the end of residency, two significant factors were identified: dedicated medical school research time and having a secondary degree (Table 2).
Conclusions: The present study indicates that mandatory research time in medical school has a lasting impact on both quantity and quality of future work not made up for by dedicated time for research during residency training. These results are valuable to both trainees and programs as they evaluate residency candidates and look to optimize their residency curriculums.
| Overall | Class of 2019 | Class of 2020 | |
| Total Residents | 221 | 95 (43.0%) | 126 (57.0%) |
| Completing fellowship | 161 (75.9%) | 69 (75.0%) | 92 (76.7%) |
| Went to academic practice | 94 (42.3%) | 44 (46.3%) | 50 (39.7%) |
| Went to privatepractice | 87 (39.2%) | 41 (43.2%) | 46 (36.5%) |
| Completed secondary degree | 39 (17.4%) | 21 (22.1%) | 18 (14.3%) |
| Medical school:average number of publications | 3.2 (N=208, SD=4.5) | 3.1 (N=90,SD=3.8) | 3.2 (N=118, SD=5.0) |
| Residency: average number of publications | 8.1 (N=209, SD=10.0) | 6.8 (N=90,SD=7.8) | 9.1 (N=119, SD=11.3) |
| h-index | 5.31 (N=209, SD=5.09) | 4.88 (N=90,SD=3.71) | 5.64 (N=119, SD=5.91) |
| Number of Publications: Regression Coefficient (95% CI) | P-value | h-Index: Regression Coefficient (95% CI) | P-value | |
| Characteristics | 1.72 (1.22,2.18) | 0.000 | 2.66 (0.22,5.09) | 0.032 |
| Academic Practice | -0.09 (-0.46,0.29) | 0.647 | 0.29 (-1.65,2.24) | 0.766 |
| Private Practice | -0.16 (-0.56,0.23) | 0.415 | 0.46 (-1.58,2.50) | 0.658 |
| Fellowship | 0.14 (-0.18,0.46) | 0.397 | 0.98 (-0.68,2.64) | 0.246 |
| Residency is same as medical school | 0.05 (-0.29,0.40) | 0.758 | 0.11 (-1.66,1.89( | 0.900 |
| Dedicated research time, medical school, optional | 0.30 (-0.002,0.60) | 0.052 | 0.32 (-1.23,1.87) | 0.682 |
| Dedicated research time, medical school-mandatory | 0.70 (0.35,1.05) | 0.000 | 2.96 (1.15,4.77) | 0.002 |
| Dedicated Research Time, residency | 0.13 (-0.15,0.41) | 0.369 | 0.94 (-0.50,2.38) | 0.202 |
| Extra secondary degree(s) | 0.09 (-0.25,0.43) | 0.613 | 1.88 (0.13,3.63) | 0.035 |
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