Zippi Zachary D, Schachner Benjamin I, Vanderveer-Harris Nathan, Jaeger Nicholas, Zalkind Michael, Stowell Justin, Mergo Patricia J
Office of Medical Education, Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, USA.
Office of Medical Education, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, USA.
Cureus. 2022 Jul 14;14(7):e26855. doi: 10.7759/cureus.26855. eCollection 2022 Jul.
Background In this study, we aimed to assess current demographics, measures of academic productivity, and other objective leadership characteristics among United States cardiothoracic imaging fellowship directors (FDs). Methodology A survey was sent to active members listed in the Society of Thoracic Radiology Cardiothoracic Imaging Fellowship Directory. Demographic, post-graduate training, and scholarly activity data were collected, including, but not limited to, age, sex, residency and fellowship training institutions, time since training completion until FD, length of time as FD, and Hirsch-index (h-index) to measure research activity. Results We identified 53 FDs from 50 cardiothoracic imaging fellowship programs. Of these, 31 (58.5%) were male and 22 (41.5%) were female with an average age of 48.5 years (standard deviation (SD) = 8.4, range = 35-67). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean age of male and female FDs (47.5 vs 50.2 years, p = 0.2811). The mean age of appointment to the FD role was 41.8 years. On average, FDs graduated from residency in 2005 and 2007 for fellowships. Most attended allopathic medical schools (52/53, 98.1%). The average Scopus h-index was 15.7 (SD = 17.4). Gender-wise comparison of mean h-indices revealed 16.2 for males and 15 for females, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.81). Ten (18.9%) FDs and 20 (37.7%) FDs were at the same location they completed residency and fellowship training, respectively. Conclusions This cross-sectional study shows the present demographics within the cardiothoracic radiology FD position. This field of radiology is observed to have FDs with research productivity that is comparable with other medical specialties. Some radiology residency and fellowship programs were shown to produce more FDs than others; however, we were not able to identify causality. Program directors appear to be selected from a familiar pool of applicants, and ultimately FDs are being replaced by individuals with similar distinctions. Overall, this research into cardiothoracic radiology FDs demographics and research productivity can add to the current body of literature on FDs in various medical specialties. It is important to continue to reflect on medical leadership as the field continues to advance.
背景 在本研究中，我们旨在评估美国心胸影像 fellowship 主任（FDs）的当前人口统计学特征、学术生产力指标以及其他客观的领导特征。
方法 向胸放射学会心胸影像 fellowship 名录中列出的活跃成员发送了一份调查问卷。收集了人口统计学、研究生后培训和学术活动数据，包括但不限于年龄、性别、住院医师培训和 fellowship 培训机构、从培训完成到担任 FD 的时间、担任 FD 的时长以及用于衡量研究活动的 Hirsch 指数（h 指数）。
结果 我们从 50 个心胸影像 fellowship 项目中识别出 53 名 FDs。其中，31 名（58.5%）为男性，22 名（41.5%）为女性，平均年龄为 48.5 岁（标准差（SD）=8.4，范围=35 - 67 岁）。男性和女性 FDs 的平均年龄之间无统计学显著差异（47.5 岁对 50.2 岁，p = 0.2811）。担任 FD 角色的平均年龄为 41.8 岁。FDs 平均分别于 2005 年和 2007 年完成住院医师培训和 fellowship 培训。大多数人毕业于全科医学院（52/53，98.1%）。Scopus 平均 h 指数为 15.7（SD = 17.4）。按性别比较平均 h 指数，男性为 16.2，女性为 15，两组之间无统计学显著差异（p = 0.81）。分别有 10 名（18.9%）FDs 和 20 名（37.7%）FDs 在他们完成住院医师培训和 fellowship 培训的同一地点工作。
结论 这项横断面研究显示了心胸放射学 FD 职位的当前人口统计学特征。观察到该放射学领域的 FDs 的研究生产力与其他医学专业相当。一些放射学住院医师培训和 fellowship 项目培养出的 FDs 比其他项目多；然而，我们无法确定因果关系。项目主任似乎是从熟悉的申请人池中挑选出来的，最终 FDs 被具有类似特质的个人所取代。总体而言，这项对心胸放射学 FDs 人口统计学和研究生产力的研究可以为当前关于各医学专业 FDs 的文献增添内容。随着该领域的不断发展，持续反思医学领导力很重要。
