Funding a general surgery residency academic development time program.

BACKGROUND

To encourage progression of surgeon scientists amongst increasingly limited funding, academic interest, training institutions are supporting mid-training academic development time (ADT). We propose that supporting ADT with a full funding mechanism will improve ADT participation at minimal institutional cost.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2017 to 2022, our surgery department proposed a full funding mechanism for a post-graduate year three (PGY-3) resident to encourage ADT participation. Residents were required to submit at least two external grants. Annual funding sources and total stipend supplementation was calculated by prevalence of ADT residents.

RESULTS

From 2017 to 2022, 30 residents opted to participate in 1-4 years of ADT with increasing prevalence. 5 funding sources were utilized with ∼$530,000 in total annual funding. Departmental contribution was minimal compared to external (9% vs. 91% ($48,102 vs. $485,573, p ​< ​0.001)).

CONCLUSIONS

With commitment of full salary supplementation, residents choosing ADT increased at marginal institutional cost, suggesting a solution to combating the declining number of academic surgeons.