Supporting early career anatomists: An international challenge

Beverley Kramer; Carol Hartmann; Francesca du Toit; Erin Hutchinson; Nalini Pather

doi:10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151520

Supporting early career anatomists: An international challenge

Ann Anat. 2020 Sep:231:151520. doi: 10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151520. Epub 2020 Apr 25.

Authors

Beverley Kramer¹, Carol Hartmann², Francesca du Toit³, Erin Hutchinson⁴, Nalini Pather⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa. Electronic address: Beverley.kramer@wits.ac.za.
² Undergraduate Unit for Medical Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa.
³ Division of Clinical Anatomy and Biological Anthropology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁴ School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa.
⁵ Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales- Sydney, Wallace Wurth Building, Kensington, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 32344100
DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151520

Abstract

Introduction: The formative years in academia are difficult for early career academics as they transition into their new roles in teaching and research. Ubiquitous changes in health sciences education have compounded this transition for early career anatomists (ECA), who must balance curriculum transformations, research imperatives and administrative responsibilities as they navigate their transition. Support for ECAs is thus important in order to provide a strong pipeline of anatomists for the future of the discipline and its foundational role in the health sciences. Thus, this study investigated the needs of international ECAs with respect to teaching, research and career/professional development in the anatomical sciences.

Method: The authors distributed an online survey in 2018 to ECAs of member associations of the International Federation of Association of Anatomists (IFAA). The survey contained both closed and open-ended response questions. Data gathered included ECAs level of academic appointment, training for teaching and nature of support that ECAs may find valuable for their development as anatomists. Frequencies and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and answers to open-response questions were analysed qualitatively.

Results: Over 590 respondents from across the globe answered the survey. Requests for training in the clinical relevance and application of anatomical sub-disciplines were frequent. Importantly, support to establish collaborations, mentorship relationships and professional networks were repeatedly requested.

Conclusion: In this first ever international survey of ECAs, the needs expressed by respondents indicate the importance of academic and professional development support at both local and global levels. Partnerships between the IFAA, institutions, anatomical and educational associations should create training and mentoring opportunities to smooth the transition into academia for these young academics, which would ensure the future of the discipline and its role in the health sciences.

Keywords: Anatomists; Capacity development; Early career academics; Professional development.

MeSH terms

Anatomy / education*
Anatomy / trends
Female
Humans
Internationality*
Male
Research / education
Research / trends
Surveys and Questionnaires
Teaching / education
Teaching / trends