Reasons that orthodontic faculty teach and consider leaving teaching

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Academic Medicine
• Faculty Retention

Background:

• The field of orthodontics faces a potential shortage of full-time (FT) faculty.
• Understanding the reasons why academic orthodontic faculty consider leaving is critical for retention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the factors influencing full-time (FT) and part-time (PT) orthodontic faculty's decisions to leave academia.
• To identify key work-related and personal factors contributing to faculty attrition in orthodontic education.

Main Methods:

• A pretested questionnaire was mailed to 200 full-time (FT) and 200 part-time (PT) orthodontic faculty in the United States and Canada.
• Response rates were 72% for FT and 60% for PT faculty, with analysis of factors affecting their decision to leave academia.

Main Results:

• Approximately 38% of FT and 25% of PT faculty were considering leaving academia.
• For FT faculty, top reasons included salary support, departmental financial support, and control over work. For PT faculty, the challenge of private practice, family commitments, and personal reasons were most important.
• While initial motivations and satisfaction levels were similar, reasons for leaving differed significantly between FT (work-related) and PT (personal) faculty.

Conclusions:

• Work-related issues are primary drivers for full-time (FT) orthodontic faculty considering departure from academia.
• Addressing administrative and financial support is essential to mitigate faculty attrition and the impending shortage of FT orthodontic educators.
• Personal factors significantly influence part-time (PT) faculty's decisions, highlighting the need for tailored retention approaches.