Profile of full-time family practice educators

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Family Medicine
• Physician Workforce Studies

Background:

• The profile of full-time family practice educators in the United States was previously uncharacterized.
• Understanding educator demographics is crucial for medical education program development and faculty recruitment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the key characteristics of full-time family practice educators in the US.
• To identify the practice backgrounds and training of these educators.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to full-time family practice educators across the United States.
• Data collected included practice history, training, board certification, and job satisfaction.

Main Results:

• The majority of educators entered teaching between 1972-1975, following 10-20 years in private practice.
• Group practice was slightly more common than solo practice in their prior settings.
• Most educators had two years of graduate training and were diplomates of the American Board of Family Practice.

Conclusions:

• Family practice educators are a seasoned group, transitioning to academia after substantial clinical experience.
• Despite high job satisfaction, a desire for continued personal patient contact persists among these educators.