Redefining the need for faculty in family medicine: Results of a 5-year follow-up survey

Background and Objectives: A study was conducted in 1994 to determine the n eed for faculty in family medicine. This paper reports a comparative follow -up study in 1999. Methods: This follow-up study determined faculty positio ns filled in the last 5 years, new faculty positions currently available, r eplacement faculty positions currently available, and new faculty positions anticipated to be available in the next 3 years. In addition, comparisons were made with the previous study regarding time available for clinical, ed ucational, and research activities. Results: In the 1994 survey, respondent s reported 496 open faculty positions and anticipated that 677 would become available during the subsequent 3 pears, for a total of 1,173 positions. T he 1999 survey data indicated that the actual number of positions filled or still open since 1994 was 1,072, In contrast, new positions open in 1999 o r anticipated to be open in the subsequent 3 years were 604, For both resid encies and departments, most positions in both surveys were for clinicians. Conclusions: Despite a decrease in the number of available positions for f amily medicine faculty reported between the 1994 original survey and 1999 f ollow-up survey, there are still more than 600 faculty positions currently available, and additional new positions are anticipated over the next 3 pea rs.