9. The Role of Dedicated Research Training in Promoting Academic Success in Plastic Surgery: Analysis of 949 Faculty Across the United States

Background: As competition has increased for residency and fellowship positions in plastic surgery, more applicants are performing dedicated research training. It has been established that research fellowships are predictive of increased match success; however, the role of dedicated research training in long-term career success remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to analyze career data for academic plastic surgeons to aid trainees in their decisions to weigh the opportunity cost of performing a research fellowship. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of attending plastic surgeons at 99 American academic institutions was performed using publicly available data. The performance of dedicated research training was defined as completion of least one year of dedicated research including completion of any of the following: research fellowship, PhD, or MPH. Career outcomes assessed included: promotion to full professor, promotion to department chair, H-index, obtainment of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, and total NIH funding received. Outcomes were compared between surgeons with or without dedicated research time utilizing Chi square tests, t tests, and multivariable logistic regressions adjusting for demographics, years in practice, and program reputation. Results: A total of 949 faculty were included for analysis. 19.5% (N=185) performed any dedicated research time (including 56 PhD, 14 MPH degrees), and 13.7% (N=130) completed a dedicated research fellowship. On univariate analysis, surgeons who completed dedicated research training were significantly more likely to attain full professorship (31.3% vs. 24.0%, p=.01), to obtain NIH funding (18.3% vs. 6.5%, p<.001), and had a higher mean h-index (15.6 vs. 11.6, p<.001). Multivariable analysis was consistent with these results, with both any dedicated research time or completion of a research fellowship being independent predictors of achieving full professorship (OR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.7), increased h-index (OR=3.9, 95% CI; 2.2-5.6), and obtaining NIH funding (OR=3.3, 95% CI: 2.0-5.4). Completion of dedicated research training was not associated with increased likelihood of becoming department chair or with increased total NIH funding. Conclusion: Performance of dedicated research training was predictive of improved markers of career success in plastic surgery and should be considered beneficial in both the short and long term.