CAREER PROGRESS OF TEMPORARY LECTURERS IN ANATOMY - A SURGICAL SUCCESS STORY

A questionnaire concerning career progress was sent to 159 previous ho lders of temporary lecturer posts in anatomy (TLAs) al the University of Manchester (UK) between 1975 and 1992. Replies were received from 1 23 TLAs, of whom 90% were male and 71% had achieved Fellowship(s) of a Royal College of Surgeons. Of the 86 respondents who had reached care er appointments, 72% held surgical posts, 16% were in general practice , 6% were in nonsurgical hospital specialties, and 6% in nonclinical c areers. The duration of training for the surgical specialties overall had been 12 years. Postgraduate diplomas and degrees had been obtained by 93% of career post holders. Most respondents (87%) had found the p osts to be useful for their ongoing careers, citing improved communica tion skills and teaching. The positive values of temporary lecturer po sts in anatomy are discussed in relation to the declining numbers of m edically qualified anatomists, and the implications of changes in post graduate surgical training In the UK are highlighted. (C) 1998 Wiley-L iss, Inc.