TY - JOUR
T1 - Survey of the American college of surgeons scholarship recipients
T2 - A story of generating academic leaders
AU - Upchurch, Gilbert R.
AU - Freischlag, Julie A.
AU - Novicoff, Wendy
AU - Early, Kate
AU - Turner, Patricia L.
AU - Zinner, Michael J.
N1 - Funding Information:
With decreases in NIH funding for surgeons, one perhaps could question the need for continued support of programs aimed at funding postdoctoral research fellowships during general surgery residencies. A study by Robertson and colleagues 7 was performed to determine whether dedicated time during surgical residency is associated with funding after postgraduate training. This group, from the Department of Surgery at Washington University, performed a survey of 105 graduates, from 1990 to 2005, from their academic general surgery program. The results documented that 35% of residents who performed research during their residency subsequently received independent faculty funding, with 20% receiving an NIH grant. Interestingly, the number of articles authored during their research time was predictive of obtaining subsequent grant funding. Interestingly, both groups, including those who had not received funding, believed that research was a worthwhile use of their time during residency. The authors concluded that a large number of residents who perform research during residency become funded investigators. This further supports the College's belief that investment into residents performing research translates into more surgeon-scientists at the faculty level.
Funding Information:
While designed to provide monetary support for research in the early faculty and resident stages, receiving an ACS Scholarship appears to have a long-lasting impact on a recipient's academic career, even in the setting of an ever increasing clinical burden. This program has also tangentially identified surgeons who go on to become leaders in academic surgery and importantly, mentors to trainees. The results of this survey strongly suggest that the ACS Scholarship Programs should continue to be supported, with consideration for expansion if possible. This survey documents that the recipients of these awards become funded surgeon-scientists and leaders in academics. Continued support of the ACS Foundation which funds the Scholarship Programs is urged.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 American College of Surgeons.
PY - 2015/6/1
Y1 - 2015/6/1
N2 - Background The objective of this survey was to provide a review of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) scholarship activity. Study Design The domestic ACS scholarship recipient survey was electronically transmitted twice to awardees from 1987 to 2007 (n = 253). Themes of the survey included type of practice, activities during scholarship period, success of peer review funding, and the role of mentors. All survey responses were evaluated using SPSS version 20. Results There were 123 total responses, with 108 separate respondents (94, 1 award; 13, 2 awards; 1, 3 awards). The group averaged 11.8 years in clinical practice, with the majority (90.2%) having an academic appointment. Seventy-seven percent of respondents were on a tenure track, and almost three-quarters (72.4%) of the respondents hold a major leadership position. In terms of research, 67.5% of respondents have received extramural funding; 10.6% have received patents. The average number of publications related to their funded research is 19.2 (range 0 to 180). Most respondents perform peer review of research (73.2%), learned about the peer review process during their funding period (82.1%), and mentor medical students (88.6%). The average number of students currently mentored is 6.4; the average total trainees mentored is 13. Despite the significant research responsibilities of respondents, they still spend more time performing clinical care (49.2%) than research (30.4%). Conclusions The ACS scholarship has a significant impact on the recipient's academic career, even in the setting of increasing clinical burdens. This program also appears to tangentially identify surgeons who become leaders in academic surgery.
AB - Background The objective of this survey was to provide a review of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) scholarship activity. Study Design The domestic ACS scholarship recipient survey was electronically transmitted twice to awardees from 1987 to 2007 (n = 253). Themes of the survey included type of practice, activities during scholarship period, success of peer review funding, and the role of mentors. All survey responses were evaluated using SPSS version 20. Results There were 123 total responses, with 108 separate respondents (94, 1 award; 13, 2 awards; 1, 3 awards). The group averaged 11.8 years in clinical practice, with the majority (90.2%) having an academic appointment. Seventy-seven percent of respondents were on a tenure track, and almost three-quarters (72.4%) of the respondents hold a major leadership position. In terms of research, 67.5% of respondents have received extramural funding; 10.6% have received patents. The average number of publications related to their funded research is 19.2 (range 0 to 180). Most respondents perform peer review of research (73.2%), learned about the peer review process during their funding period (82.1%), and mentor medical students (88.6%). The average number of students currently mentored is 6.4; the average total trainees mentored is 13. Despite the significant research responsibilities of respondents, they still spend more time performing clinical care (49.2%) than research (30.4%). Conclusions The ACS scholarship has a significant impact on the recipient's academic career, even in the setting of increasing clinical burdens. This program also appears to tangentially identify surgeons who become leaders in academic surgery.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84929833481&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84929833481&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.02.027
DO - 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.02.027
M3 - Article
C2 - 25998084
AN - SCOPUS:84929833481
SN - 1072-7515
VL - 220
SP - 1122-1127.e3
JO - Journal of the American College of Surgeons
JF - Journal of the American College of Surgeons
IS - 6
ER -