Characteristics of Independent Academic Medical Center Faculty

Abstract

Objective: Little is known about the characteristics of teaching faculty in US surgical residencies based at Independent Academic Medical Centers (IAMCs). The purpose of this study was to survey teaching faculty at IAMCs to better define their common characteristics.

Study design: An online, anonymous survey was distributed through program officials at 96 IAMCs to their faculty and graduates. Respondents were asked about their demographic information, training history, board certification, clinical practice, and exposure to medical students. Student t-tests and chi-square tests were calculated to evaluate associations between faculty characteristics.

Setting: Independent Academic Medical Center general surgery training programs PARTICIPANTS: A total of 128 faculty at 14 IAMCs participated in the study.

Results: In total, 128 faculty from 14 programs responded to the survey. The mean age of faculty respondents was 52 years and 81% were men. 58% were employed by a nonuniversity hospital, and 28% by a multispecialty practice. 79% of respondents were core faculty. The mean length of time since graduation from surgery residency was 19 years. 86% were currently board certified. 55% of those who were currently board certified had an additional certification. 45% had trained in an IAMC, 50% in an university program, and 5% in a military program. 73% were actively practicing general surgeons, with the majority (70%) performing between 101 and 400 cases annually. The vast majority of faculty (90%) performed <200 endoscopies annually, with 44% performing none. 84% and 35% provided ER and trauma coverage, respectively. 81% listed mentorship as their primary motivation for teaching residents. 23% received a stipend for this teaching. 95% were involved in medical student teaching. Faculty who completed training at university programs had more additional certifications compared with those with IAMC training (67% vs. 43%, p = 0.007). Certification differences by program type were consistent across age and time since residency completion. Age was not associated with residency program type (p = 0.87) nor additional certifications (p = 0.97).

Conclusions: IAMC faculty and graduates are overwhelmingly involved in general surgery, and most faculty have additional certifications. 90% of faculty have clinical exposure to medical students. Faculty at IAMCs were as likely to have been trained at an university program as an IAMC. In a time of increasing surgeon subspecialization and anxiety about the ability of 5-year training programs to train well-rounded surgeons, IAMCs appear to be a repository of consistent general surgical training.

Keywords: Independent Academic Medical Center; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; Professionalism; Systems-Based Practice; characteristics; faculty; general surgery; resident education; training.