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Do Standard Bibliometric Measures Correlate with Academic Rank of Full-Time Pediatric Dentistry Faculty Members?
Harlyn K Susarla1, Vineet Dhar2, Nadeem Y Karimbux1
1Dr. Susarla is a former Resident, Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Maryland School of Dentistry and is currently in private practice in Seattle, WA; Dr. Dhar is Associate Professor and Chief, Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Maryland School of Dentistry; Dr. Karimbux is Professor of Periodontology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine; and Dr. Tinanoff is Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, Division of Pediatric Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
Abstract:
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the relationship between quantitative measures of research productivity and academic rank for full-time pediatric dentistry faculty members in accredited U.S. and Canadian residency programs. For each pediatric dentist in the study group, academic rank and bibliometric factors derived from publicly available databases were recorded. Academic ranks were lecturer/instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. Bibliometric factors were mean total number of publications, mean total number of citations, maximum number of citations for a single work, and h-index (a measure of the impact of publications, determined by total number of publications h that had at least h citations each). The study sample was comprised of 267 pediatric dentists: 4% were lecturers/instructors, 44% were assistant professors, 30% were associate professors, and 22% were professors. The mean number of publications for the sample was 15.4±27.8. The mean number of citations was 218.4±482.0. The mean h-index was 4.9±6.6. The h-index was strongly correlated with academic rank (r=0.60, p=0.001). For this sample, an h-index of ≥3 was identified as a threshold for promotion to associate professor, and an h-index of ≥6 was identified as a threshold for promotion to professor. The h-index was strongly correlated with the academic rank of these pediatric dental faculty members, suggesting that this index may be considered a measure for promotion, along with a faculty member's quality and quantity of research, teaching, service, and clinical activities.