1
|
Odenthal J, Knoedler L, Oezdemir B, Prantl L, Machens HG, Broer PN, von Isenburg S, Rieger UM, Kauke M, Panayi AC, Knoedler S. How to attract our future? - Perception of plastic surgery among medical students. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2022; 80:4-12. [PMID: 36931006 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2022.08.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a mounting body of evidence that underscores the worldwide and US national need for increased plastic surgery recruitment of trainees. Thus, plastic surgery must attract more applicants while maintaining the high-level qualifications of residency candidates. METHODS A total of 250 (w = 197) medical students rated the prototypical plastic surgeon (PS), general practitioner (GP), and craniomaxillofacial surgeon (CMF) with respect to traits derived from a literature review on the general perception of surgery, favorability, and their intention to pursue a respective career. RESULTS Factor analysis yielded two overarching dimensions of prototype perception in addition to femininity and resilience, one reflecting a coldhearted, narcissistic, competitive character (status primacy; SP), and one reflecting role-model-like traits (hard-working, healthy, admired, and empathetic). Prototypical PSs scored significantly higher on SP than GPs (t(249) = 18.72, p < 0.001, d = 1.26) and CMFs (t(249) = 5.73, p < 0.001, d = 0.36), while receiving significantly less positive evaluations (GP: t(249) = -9.93, p < 0.001, d = -0.63; CMF: t(249) = -3.52, p < 0.001, d = -0.22). The higher participants rated PSs on SP, the more likely a career in plastic surgery was excluded (OR = 0.71, p = 0.03). An opposite relationship with femininity approached significance (OR = 1.32, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS Given the growing need for PSs, worldwide and US national task fields have to overcome the outdated traits and highlight the field's pro-bono engagement. Furthermore, plastic surgery should further expand its leading role in promoting female trainees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Odenthal
- Department of Psychology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Leonard Knoedler
- Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Berkin Oezdemir
- Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lukas Prantl
- Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Guenther Machens
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - P Niclas Broer
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Hand and Burn Surgery, Bogenhausen Academic Teaching Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich M Rieger
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Academic Teaching Hospital of the J. W. Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Martin Kauke
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Adriana C Panayi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Samuel Knoedler
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Beyond the Scalpel: Attracting and Nurturing Surgeon-Scientists in Plastic Surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg 2021; 149:509-516. [PMID: 34898526 DOI: 10.1097/prs.0000000000008786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY With plastic surgery being at the forefront of innovation and discovery in multiple research disciplines, plastic surgery is poised for M.D./Ph.D. and research-focused M.D. trainees to be attracted to this field. Surprisingly, recent reports have shown that the number of surgeon-scientists pursuing research is on the decline, with these declines being even more pronounced within plastic surgery. It is essential that plastic surgery remains a leader in translational research by cultivating a group of individuals who have been trained in basic research and are thereby competitive to obtain extramural grant funding. To address this need, the authors review data elucidating why the research-oriented trainee may forego pursuing a career in plastic surgery. Although much of the existing literature is speculative, the authors identified the current number of M.D./Ph.D.s in plastic surgery using data obtained from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and investigated number of grants in plastic surgery compared to other medical and surgical fields using the National Institutes of Health Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Results. The authors hypothesize that economic constraints and difficulty securing protected research time may be contributing to fewer trainees pursuing plastic surgery. The purpose of this article is (1) to discuss potential reasons deterring research-oriented trainees from pursuing careers as surgeon-scientists within plastic surgery; (2) to propose solutions that may attract more trainees interested in careers as surgeon-scientists to the field of plastic surgery; (3) to highlight the lack of quantitative data regarding surgeon-scientist training in plastic surgery; and (4) to propose and encourage future research avenues to help attract and nurture surgeon-scientists in plastic surgery.
Collapse
|
3
|
Elango M, Asaad M, Kotta PA, Rajesh A, Kaakeh R, Mitchell DT, Tran NV. Gender Disparity in Abstract Presentation at Plastic Surgery Meetings. J Surg Res 2021; 265:204-211. [PMID: 33951585 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical and surgical fields continue to be marred by gender disparities. The "leaky pipeline" effect, representing a gradual decline in female representation along the academic ladder, has been well documented in plastic surgery. However, gender differences in abstract presentation at national plastic surgery meetings and subsequent publications remains elusive. METHODS We reviewed abstracts presented at the 2014 and 2015 annual meetings of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS); American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and the Plastic Surgery Research Council (PSRC). Several abstract characteristics including the names of the first and last authors were extracted. Genderize.io and Google search were used to identify the authors' gender. RESULTS We identified 1174 abstracts presented at the three identified meetings. Females comprised 29% of the presenters and 16% of abstract senior authors (ASAs). No gender differences were identified between the meetings, type of presentation (oral versus poster), and year of presentation. The only difference was in the subspecialty of the abstracts. Successful conversion to full-text articles was similar for male and female presenters (68% versus 62%, P = 0.065) but higher for male ASAs (68% versus 59%, P = 0.01). When an author change occurred, female presenters and ASAs were more likely to be replaced by males (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Gender differences continue to be evident in academic plastic surgery with women constituting a minority of both presenters and senior authors on abstracts presented at national plastic surgery meetings. Future work should assess whether flexible and supportive work policies can foster greater female representation in academic plastic surgery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madhivanan Elango
- University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, England
| | - Malke Asaad
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | | | | | - Reham Kaakeh
- Aleppo University, Faculty of Medicine, Aleppo, Syria
| | | | - Nho V Tran
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
| |
Collapse
|