DOES RESEARCH DURING GENERAL-SURGERY RESIDENCY CORRELATE WITH ACADEMIC PURSUITS AFTER PEDIATRIC-SURGERY RESIDENCY

A study was designed to evaluate whether successful candidates in pedi atric surgery have performed laboratory research with publication, and if such preparation leads to continued investigations. We requested a curriculum vitae from the 248 pediatric surgeons who began their pedi atric surgery residencies (PSR) between 1979 and 1992. For nonresponde rs, data were collected from physician directories. Indicators of acad emic status, personal information, and publication data were obtained, Responders had more publications before, during, and after PSR, Those who published during general surgery residency (GSR) had more researc h years during their residency. Among responders, 59% had spent time i n the laboratory, and the percentage with laboratory time increased ov er the study period. Those with laboratory experience had more laborat ory and clinical papers before PSR. Ninety-four percent were from univ ersity-based GSRs and 6% were from community GSRs. University general surgery residents did not have more publications during GSR or PSR but had a greater number of publications after PSR. University general su rgery residents had more laboratory publications during GSR and after PSR, but did not have more clinical publications. Publications during GSR and after PSR increased during the study period, but not during PS R. Time in the laboratory during GSR did not independently predict con tinued laboratory research, Those with laboratory papers during GSR di d not publish more basic science papers after PSR. Several surgeons ha d basic science publications that were initiated only after their PSR. In a recent study that compared successful and unsuccessful PSR candi dates, the successful candidates were found to have more publications. We found that among successful candidates, those who published during GSR continued their academic orientation after PSR, ie, they had more publications than those who had not published during GSR. Copyright ( C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company.