Assessing the costs of academic engagement in plastic surgery in the United States

Academic engagement plays a central role in education, leadership development, and career advancement in Plastic Surgery. While other surgical specialties have evaluated the financial barriers to such involvement, plastic surgery lacks a comprehensive cost analysis. This cross-sectional observational study seeks to quantify the cumulative costs associated with academic participation across societies, meetings, and publishing platforms.

Major plastic surgery societies, meetings, and journals were identified by two authors through author consensus and web-based searches. Cost data was collected in 2025 from official online sources or directly from society and meeting coordinators. A baseline academic engagement (BAE) cost was calculated for newly board-certified surgeons, and total lifetime costs were estimated assuming a 34-year clinical career. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise costs across categories and subspecialties.

The average BAE was $19,367.32, with an annual continuation cost of $15,176.72. Over a 34-year career, the total estimated cost of academic engagement was $520,199.08. Median conference attendance cost was $876 for members, excluding travel and lost productivity. CME credit acquisition averaged $47.20 per credit for members and $55.71 for nonmembers. Journal subscriptions and open-access publication fees further added to the financial burden. Costs were highest in aesthetic and craniofacial subspecialties.

The cumulative costs of academic participation, including society membership, conference attendance, and publication, may limit engagement, particularly for early-career, international, and private practice surgeons. Expanding virtual CME options, increasing scholarship availability, and reevaluating CME accreditation criteria may help reduce disparities and ensure broader, sustained involvement in academic plastic surgery.