Academic productivity and affiliation of dermatologic surgeons

Because Mohs fellowship training typically incorporates a research component, as required by the Mohs College for fellowship certification, we evaluated whether Mohs microscopic surgery fellowship-trained (MMSFT) dermatologic surgeons were more likely to join academic institutions and demonstrate greater activity in teaching, research, and scientific writing than non-fellowship-trained surgeons (NMMSFT).

Responses to the 2002 and 2005 American Academy of Dermatology Practice Profile survey comparing practice settings, proportion of time spent in various practice settings, and professional roles were compared between the two groups.

MMSFT dermatologic surgeons were 5 times as likely to be in full-time academic practice and 3 times as likely to be in part-time academia as NMMSFT dermatologic surgeons. Consistent with their greater presence in academia, in 2004, 47% of MMSFT dermatologist surgeons participated in teaching, compared with 19% of NMMSFT surgeons (p=.001) and 16% of all dermatologists (p=.001). Twenty-two percent of MMSFT dermatologic surgeons were involved in research, compared with only 4% of NMMSFT dermatologic surgeons (p=.001) and 8% of all dermatologists (p<.05).

Academic productivity of dermatologic surgeons appears to be associated with Mohs fellowship training. The level of teaching and research was significant even in MMSFT surgeons who were not in full- or part-time academic faculty positions. This suggests a strong tradition of academic productivity for dermatologic surgeons outside traditional academic institutions.