FACULTY DEPARTURE FROM ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION

Anecdotal reports suggest that substantial numbers of physiatrists lea ve academic positions each year, but the specific reasons why departur e occurs from academic institutions are opaque. Academic program chair persons were asked to identify individuals who had left their program in the previous 5 yr, and a confidential survey was sent to those pers ons. Program chairpersons who responded were from similar programs as chairpersons who did not respond, except they had greater numbers of n onphysiatrists on their faculty. Forty-nine completed surveys were ret urned. Respondents were generally junior faculty, who had practiced an average of 5.35 yr, and their previous academic position was the firs t one after residency. The most important reasons for leaving were for a better career opportunity, personal, low job satisfaction with admi nistration and not enough financial reward. The most important changes at the previous institution that might have induced them to stay were fewer administrative/political problems, greater salary, more protect ed time for academics, effective mentor/role model and more support fo r research. Statistically significant differences were noted between t hose who moved to another academic position and those who went into pr ivate practice, between those who were in their first job v the second or later job, between program and nonprogram graduates who had long-t erm expectations and between men and women respondents. Recommendation s for faculty retention are discussed.