Trends in the academic workforce of obstetrics and gynecology.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to report results from the seventh survey that monitored trends in numbers of full-time department faculty and from a first survey on the current and anticipated numbers of part-time faculty.

METHODS

A faculty workforce survey, drafted in the same format as the prior published questionnaire, was sent electronically to chairs of obstetrics and gynecology at all 125 U.S. medical schools. Each chair was asked to provide the number of current full-time and part-time (0.5-0.9 full-time equivalent) faculty in each specialty and the projected department size in 5 years. When accuracy of data were questioned, we reviewed the department's Web site and directly communicated with the chair.

RESULTS

The mean number of full-time faculty per department increased from 25 in 1994 to 29 in 2008 (95% confidence interval 25-33). Most departments (84.0%) had part-time faculty, which constituted 21.2% of the total faculty. Growth was only substantial in the number of medical faculty. In 2008, half (50.1%) of all faculty were women. Private schools and research-oriented departments had the largest faculty sizes. Two-thirds of all chairs anticipated that the number of faculty will increase, especially for part-time faculty and entry-level assistant professors as generalists or maternal-fetal medicine specialists.

CONCLUSION

Continued growth in department sizes was accompanied by considerably more women and more part-time faculty. The numbers of full-time and part-time faculty are anticipated to increase.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.