The Association Between Publication Record and Career Path for Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship Applicants.

INTRODUCTION

It is unknown whether the publication productivity of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery (FPRS) fellowship applicants before fellowship can be a predictor of pursuing academics in the future. The objective of this study was to assess whether the publication productivity of a cohort of FPRS fellowship applicants was associated with their eventual career path of academic versus non-academic practice.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of a cohort of FPRS fellowship applicants who applied to a single institution from 2012 to 2016. Their submitted publication records at the time of the application process, and their current career positions were queried.

RESULTS

Thirty-four (27%) of the 125 fellowship applicants are currently in academic positions with no difference in genders ( = 0.66). Academic FPRS clinicians had a significantly higher number of total publications (6.3 ± 5.1 vs. 4.4 ± 3.9,  = 0.03), first author publications (3.4 ± 3.2 vs. 2.1 ± 2.5,  = 0.01), and publications in otolaryngology or plastic/aesthetic surgery journals (4.5 ± 3.9 vs. 3.1 ± 3.3,  = 0.03). There was no difference in the number of plastics, aesthetic, or trauma-specific publications ( = 0.44).

CONCLUSION

The number of publications and publications in otolaryngology or plastic/aesthetic surgery journals, but not necessarily articles with specific plastic/aesthetic/trauma topics, may be a predictor of pursuing academia for FPRS fellowship applicants.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE