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Career Paths of Young Fellowship-Trained Microsurgeons
Christopher R Howell1, Madeline G Tierney2, Allen Westerfield3
1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery
|December 31, 2024
Summary
Most microsurgery fellows start practicing microsurgery, but 36% switch jobs within 5 years. Academic surgeons are more prone to job changes, while fellowship presence aids retention in academic settings.
Area of Science:
- Microsurgery
- Surgical Training
- Career Development
Background:
- Microsurgery demands extensive training and practice support.
- Understanding career trajectories is crucial for retaining microsurgeons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe career paths of early-career microsurgeons.
- To identify factors influencing job switching in this specialty.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of public data for microsurgery fellowship graduates (2016-2020).
- Kaplan-Meier method used to assess job switching rates over time.
Main Results:
- 167 graduates analyzed; 92.2% initially practiced microsurgery, 61.7% entered academia.
- 31.4% switched jobs, with an estimated 36% switching by 5 years.
- Academic surgeons were more likely to switch jobs (p=0.04); fellowship presence correlated with staying in academia (p=0.04).
Conclusions:
- Most microsurgery fellows begin practice, but significant job switching occurs within 5 years.
- Academic microsurgeons face higher job mobility; fellowship presence may stabilize academic careers.
- A minority of microsurgeons cease practice, highlighting the need for practice support.
