Workforce characteristics of mohs surgery fellows

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Surgical Oncology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Mohs fellowships are reportedly growing in popularity and competitiveness.
• This trend is observed among dermatology trainees and program directors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the characteristics of dermatologists pursuing Mohs fellowships.
• To identify the motivating factors behind the choice to pursue Mohs surgery.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous surveys were administered to recent dermatology residency graduates.
• Data was collected from participants attending board exam review courses between 1999 and 2002.

Main Results:

• The percentage of dermatologists pursuing Mohs fellowships remained relatively stable between 8.5% and 9.4% from 1999 to 2002.
• Mohs fellows and non-fellows showed no significant differences in debt, marital status, parental status, or spousal employment.
• Mohs fellows were slightly more likely to be male; location was the primary job consideration for both groups.

Conclusions:

• The increasing number of Mohs surgeons suggests continued expansion in the field.
• Further investigation is required to understand the factors driving the rise in Mohs fellowship popularity.
• The long-term impact of this growth on the supply and demand for Mohs surgery services needs monitoring.