Report of two preventive medicine job market surveys

Introduction: The American Association of Public Health Physicians (AAPHP) conducted two surveys to explore the value of general preventive medicine/p ublic health (GPM) training and board certification to physicians seeking G PM jobs. Methods: The first survey reviewed advertisements in recent issues of four medical journals. The second surveyed physician registrants at the Preventi on 99 meeting. Results: The first survey screened about 18,500 job advertisements. Of thes e, 1427 (7.7%) met the study's GPM screening criteria. Only 145 (10.6%) pre ferred an MPH, management, or related degree. Forty-one (2.9%) preferred a doctorate (MD/DO/PhD) and an MPH, management,or related degree. Only one (0 .07%) required or preferred CPM board certification. Results were consisten t across market sectors (federal, state/local, academic, health care :deliv ery) and across job roles (management, direct service, research, technical) . The second survey gathered credential, job search, and employment-data from 140 physician registrants at Prevention 99 (annual joint meeting of the Am erican College of Preventive Medicine and the Association of Teachers of Pr eventive Medicine in March 1999). Seventy-eight (55.7%) reported that GPM t raining was of major importance in securing their current employment. Only 18.5% of physicians holding GPM jobs secured their current employment by re sponding to an advertisement. Conclusion: GPM board certification is of little or no value when competing for the vast majority of GPM-related jobs. Recommendation: The AAPHP recommends prompt coordinated action by national organizations representing GPM physicians to increase the number of job off erings preferring or requiring physicians with GPM board certification. A s ix-point-action plan is proposed. (C) 2001 American Journal of Preventive M edicine.