Individual and Program-Related Predictors of Academic Vascular Surgery Practice

Background: Several studies have explored factors affecting academic employment in surgical subspecialties; however, vascular surgery has not yet been investigated. We examined which elements of surgical training predict future academic productivity and studied characteristics of NIH-funded vascular surgery attendings.Methods: With approval from the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery (APDVS), the database of recent vascular surgery fellowship (VSF) and integrated vascular surgery residency (IVSR) graduates was obtained, and public resources (Doximity, Scopus, PubMed, NIH, etc.) were queried for research output during and after training, completion of dedicated research years, individual and program NIH funding, current practice setting, and academic rank. Adjusted multivariate regression analyses were conducted for postgraduate academic productivity.Results: From 2013 to 2017, there were 734 graduates. Six hundred three completed VSF and 131 IVSR; 220 (29%) were female. Academic employment was predicted by MD degree, advanced degree, training at a top NIH-funded program, number publications by end of training, and H-index. Dedicated research time before or during vascular training, advanced degree, or graduating from a top NIH-funded program were predictors of publishing >1 paper/year. Number of publications by end of training and years in practice were predictive of H-index >= 5. VSF versus IVSR pathway did not have an impact on future academic employment, annual publication rate as an attending, or H-index. Characterization of NIH-funded attendings showed that they often completed dedicated research time (72%) and trained at a top NIH-funded program (79%). Mean publications by graduation among this group was 15.82 +/- 11.3, and they averaged 4.31 +/- 4.2 publications/year as attendings.Conclusions: Research output during training, advanced degrees, and training at a top NIHfunded program predict an academic vascular surgery career. VSF and IVSR constitute equally valid paths to productive academic careers.