Recruitment Of General Surgery Residents Into Vascular Surgery
Pauli Wheeler, D.O.1, Theresa N. Jackson1, Michael Truitt, M.D.2, Peter Nelson1, Kelly Kempe, M.D.1.
1University of Oklahoma - Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA, 2University of Oklahoma - Tulsa, Dallas, TX, USA.
OBJECTIVES: As core requirements for vascular surgery within general surgery residency have decreased, exposure has lessened, and applications to vascular surgery fellowships have declined. Given the steady downward trend in vascular applicants in conjunction with a predicted critical shortage of vascular surgeons, a call to action for increased recruitment is needed. To improve recruitment efforts, a subgroup analysis of general surgery residents was performed to explore factors that influence interest in vascular surgery.
METHODS: A cross-sectional national survey of residents (n=467) was conducted from September 2016 to May 2017. In addition to collection of demographic and occupational characteristics, assessment of psychological, work-life balance, and job-satisfaction variables were obtained. Residents were grouped based on interest in fellowship. Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact test was performed to determine significant variables.
RESULTS: Residents were grouped into “interest in non-vascular fellowship” (n=350), “interest in vascular fellowship” (n=21), and “not interested in fellowship” (n=96). Significant variables between the groups included age, geographic location, residency size, and type of institution (p<0.05). Those interested in vascular surgery tended to be older. Residents not interested in fellowship were more commonly located in the Midwest and at smaller, community residencies. No significant difference was found between mental wellness and work-life balance variables. Those residents interested in vascular surgery fellowship tended to be more dissatisfied with their current salary as compared to other residents (p=0.021).
CONCLUSIONS:
There is a predicted critical shortage in the vascular surgery workforce making recruitment of the best and the brightest residents vital to its future. Focused recruitment of younger, Midwest residents at smaller, community programs may provide the most yield. Publicity of the strengths of a vascular surgery career including the diversity of patients, continuity of care, proficiency in technical skill, and higher monetary rewards should be emphasized in recruiting these target populations.
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