International perspectives on supporting the career development of anatomists

There is currently an international shortage of anatomists at a time when changes are occurring in how, what, and to whom anatomy education is delivered. In this environment, retaining anatomists is important. This IFAA-led study gathered input from anatomists across various career stages to understand what support would be most beneficial for their career development. A single-measure collection survey, consisting of 39 questions, was sent to early career (EC), mid-career (MC), and senior career (SC) anatomists to gather their views on support that had been helpful in the past and areas where they perceived they needed further assistance for career development. A total of 406 participants from 44 countries completed the survey, and of these, 40% were EC, 26% MC, and 34% SC. While 71% of SC anatomists reported having sufficient support to develop their careers, only 52% of MC and 42% of EC anatomists felt adequately supported. For EC and MC anatomists, mentorship was the area most sought after, and for those without a mentor, 65% of EC and 44% of MC participants requested assistance in finding a mentor. All anatomists requested support for international collaboration for both research and teaching. Attendance at conferences was considered important; however, a lack of funding was problematic for anatomists from some regions. Despite these findings not capturing the viewpoints of anatomists in certain parts of the world, they highlight the importance of professional development for anatomists at all career stages, particularly mentorship and opportunities for international collaboration, as facilitated by conference attendance.