A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR ASPIRING ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRISTS - PERSONALITY ATTRIBUTES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACADEMIC-SUCCESS

Many residents in psychiatric residency training are interested in an ''academic career.'' Recognizing that current academic departments req uire excellent teachers, clinicians, and administrators in addition to researchers, medical schools and their universities are wrestling wit h titles and tenure as they attempt to provide opportunities via a var iety of academic career paths. What constitutes the most suitable care er path for the academic aspirant depends on the person's goals, motiv ations, interests, values, personality style, talents, background, and training, as well as historically and geographically available traini ng, mentoring, and employment opportunities. The authors examine alter native definitions of ''academic success,'' relate these to the variet y of personality types and opportunities found in academic settings, a nd provide some guidelines for advancement along the available career paths.