SURVEY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SELECTION OF ACADEMIC PLASTIC SURGEONS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of factors In fluencing the selection of candidates for academic positions in plasti c surgery. This study reports the results of a survey investigating th ese factors. The survey was conducted in 1994, canvassing the chairper sons from the 120 plastic surgery programs in the United States and Ca nada with responses from 91 (76 percent) of the plastic surgery progra ms. The study examined individual accomplishments and areas of additio nal training, Training in a specific area of clinical interest, clinic al and basic science experience, and training in cosmetic surgery wer e the most highly rated areas of additional training. The ideal time t o receive this training was also assessed for each area of additional training. Postgraduate degrees in basic science, epidemiology, or clin ical research were not highly rated. The highest rated personal accomp lishments were the personal interview, letter of reference from the pr ogram chairperson, publications, and presentations. Despite the survey 's attempt to evaluate factors other than personal characteristics (i. e., honesty, integrity, affability, etc.) more than 25 percent of the respondents indicated that these attributes are highly rated and canno t be judged separately, The information collected in this sun ey repre sents an opinion from 1994, which defines some of the factors that are considered important when residents and newly trained plastic surgeon s are considering a career in academic plastic surgery.