Employment-seeking experiences of residents in 1996 - A window into the neurology marketplace

Objective: To assess career choice and employment-seeking experience of sen ior neurology residents in 1996. Methods: Graduating residents in adult and pediatric neurology (n = 573) were surveyed to obtain career plans, initia l job selection, health care attitudes, and demographic information. Result s were compared with 1996 data on all United States neurologists and data f rom an American Medical Association (AMA) resident survey regarding the emp loyment status of new physicians. Results: Survey response rate was 71%. Th ere was a significant increase in international medical graduates and women entering neurology compared with the current workforce. Seventy-four perce nt of graduates planned to enter a fellowship position; 19%, private practi ce; 5%, an academic position; and 2%, a career outside of clinical medicine . Neurology residents differ from aggregate national data because only 28% of residents responding to an AMA survey across all specialties applied to fellowships in 1996. Overall, 44% of neurology graduates planned an academi c career. Conclusions: Changing demographics and career choice of recent gr aduates may require continued monitoring and could be important in neurolog y workforce planning. The high rate of fellowship training and plans for ac ademic careers in 1996 is of interest and may reflect both resident respons e to new demands in the changing health care market and a need to modify re sidency programs to enhance academic training and competitiveness of neurol ogy graduates.