The 2020 Evidence-Based Promotion Ladder of Academic Plastic Surgery

Background Metrics were evaluated between academic plastic surgeons from different tiered training programs to determine promotion predictors within tiers and between tiers for those seeking promotion from assistant professor, associate professor, to full professors. Methodology We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study by collecting 61 variables from full-time plastic surgery faculty affiliated with United States residency training programs during the 2020-2021 academic year. Surgeons were stratified into nine cohorts for comparison by professorship (assistant, associate, professor) and Doximity-ranked institution program tiers (Tier 1 = T1, Tier 2 = T2, Tier 3 = T3). Univariate followed by multivariate regressions with reciprocal transformation were performed to determine predictors more likely associated with promotion or lateral movement. Results A total of 98 programs listed 851 surgeons. T1/T2/T3 surgeon promotion predictors included more years in practice (p = 0.002; p < 0.001; p < 0.001) and greater number of last-author publications (p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p = 0.007). T1/T3 surgeon promotion predictors included higher h-indexes (p = 0.001; p = 0.002). T1 surgeon promotion predictors included being on journal editorial board (p = 0.040). T2 surgeon promotion predictors from assistant to associate included non-white race (p = 0.010). T3 surgeon promotion predictors included residency director (p = 0.009) and greater number of citations (p = 0.026). Promotion predictors from assistant, associate, and professors for T3/T2/T1 programs included greater number of last-author publications (p = 0.007; p = 0.002; p < 0.001). Movement from assistant and associate between T3/T2/T1 programs included plastic surgery department (p = 0.002; p < 0.001). Movement from assistant between programs included attending Top 10 US News medical schools (p = 0.012), attending more favorable Doximity-ranked research programs (p < 0.001), greater number of first-author publications (p = 0.017), and greater number of citations (p = 0.023). Movement from associate between programs included attending more favorable Doximity-ranked reputation programs (p = 0.017) and higher h-indexes (p = 0.017). Movement from professor between programs included receiving any American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS) award (p = 0.039) and greater number of AAPS awards (p = 0.012). Conclusions Promotion predictors provided evidence to synthesize the Doximity-tiered Promotion Ladder of Academic Plastic Surgery.