Twenty-five years of residents: what and where are they now

To evaluate the effectiveness of our program in meeting the subsequent career needs of our graduates and to describe their professional experiences as a microcosm of pediatrics, a survey was completed of the 419 pediatricians who had completed the Harriet Lane Residency Program at The Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1960 and 1984. Overall, the 326 respondents found the program to have been effective in the areas they deemed appropriate to be taught in residency years. In decreasing order, the chief resident, fellow house officers, and full-time faculty were rated to have had the greatest teaching effectiveness. The women respondents were less likely to be married (76% vs 89%), had fewer children on average (1.2 vs 2.31), missed more work, and were more likely to enter postresidency training (89% vs 78%) than the men. Of all respondents, 73% reported being certain of their career goals during residency and 77% of those reported a reasonable similarity with current positions. More than 93% reported being satisfied with their current careers, and 87% would still choose pediatrics. They are generally well reimbursed financially, with academician salaries matching those of private practitioners 10 years after completing residency and surpassing them, slightly, thereafter. This information provides much food for thought in preparing tomorrow's pediatricians.