Elizabeth H Stephens1, David Odell2, William Stein3, Damien J LaPar4, Walter F DeNino5, Muhammad Aftab6, Kathleen Berfield7, Amanda L Eilers8, Shawn Groth9, John F Lazar10, Michael P Robich6, Asad A Shah11, Danielle A Smith12, Cameron Stock13, Vakhtang Tchantchaleishvili10, Carlos M Mery14, Joseph W Turek15, Jorge Salazar16, Tom C Nguyen17. 1. Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Columbia University, New York, New York. 2. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. 4. Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. 5. Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. 6. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. 7. Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. 8. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas. 9. Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. 10. Pinnacle Health CardioVascular Institute, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 11. Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. 12. Division of Cardiac Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. 13. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York. 14. Department of Surgery, Congenital Heart Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas. 15. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. 16. Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi. 17. Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University of Texas Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: tom.c.nguyen@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: During the past decade, cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) education has undergone tremendous change with the advent of new technologies and the implementation of integrated programs, to name a few. The goal of this study was to assess how residents' career paths, training, and perceptions changed during this period. METHODS: The 2006 to 2014 surveys accompanying the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association/Thoracic Surgery Directors' Association in-training examination taken by CTS residents were analyzed, along with a 2003 survey of graduating CTS residents. Of 2,563 residents surveyed, 2,434 (95%) responded. RESULTS: During the decade, fewer residents were interested in mixed adult cardiac/thoracic practice (20% in 2014 vs 52% in 2003, p = 0.004), more planned on additional training (10% in 2003 vs 41% to 47% from 2011 to 2014), and the frequent use of simulation increased from 1% in 2009 to 24% in 2012 (p < 0.001). More residents recommended CTS to potential trainees (79% in 2014 vs 65% in 2010, p = 0.007). Job offers increased from a low of 12% in 2008 with three or more offers to 34% in 2014. Debt increased from 0% with more than $200,000 in 2003 to 40% in 2013 (p < 0.001). Compared with residents in traditional programs, more integrated residents in 2014 were interested in adult cardiac surgery (53% vs 31%) and congenital surgery (22% vs 7%), fewer were interested in general thoracic surgery (5% vs 31%, p < 0.001), and more planned on additional training (66% vs 36%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: With the evolution in CTS over the last decade, residents' training and career paths have changed substantially, with increased specialization and simulation accompanied by increased resident satisfaction and an improved job market.
BACKGROUND: During the past decade, cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) education has undergone tremendous change with the advent of new technologies and the implementation of integrated programs, to name a few. The goal of this study was to assess how residents' career paths, training, and perceptions changed during this period. METHODS: The 2006 to 2014 surveys accompanying the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association/Thoracic Surgery Directors' Association in-training examination taken by CTS residents were analyzed, along with a 2003 survey of graduating CTS residents. Of 2,563 residents surveyed, 2,434 (95%) responded. RESULTS: During the decade, fewer residents were interested in mixed adult cardiac/thoracic practice (20% in 2014 vs 52% in 2003, p = 0.004), more planned on additional training (10% in 2003 vs 41% to 47% from 2011 to 2014), and the frequent use of simulation increased from 1% in 2009 to 24% in 2012 (p < 0.001). More residents recommended CTS to potential trainees (79% in 2014 vs 65% in 2010, p = 0.007). Job offers increased from a low of 12% in 2008 with three or more offers to 34% in 2014. Debt increased from 0% with more than $200,000 in 2003 to 40% in 2013 (p < 0.001). Compared with residents in traditional programs, more integrated residents in 2014 were interested in adult cardiac surgery (53% vs 31%) and congenital surgery (22% vs 7%), fewer were interested in general thoracic surgery (5% vs 31%, p < 0.001), and more planned on additional training (66% vs 36%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: With the evolution in CTS over the last decade, residents' training and career paths have changed substantially, with increased specialization and simulation accompanied by increased resident satisfaction and an improved job market.
Authors: Rui J Cerqueira; Samuel Heuts; Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü; Simo O Syrjälä; Marlies Keijzers; Alicja Zientara; Omar A Jarral; Kirolos A Jacob; Josephina Haunschild; Priyadharshanan Ariyaratnam; Andras P Durko; Patrick Muller; Patrick O Myers; Justo Rafael Sadaba; Miia L Lehtinen Journal: Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg Date: 2021-01-22
Authors: Amy G Fiedler; Dominic Emerson; Erin A Gillaspie; Joshua L Hermsen; Melissa M Levack; Daniel P McCarthy; Smita Sihag; Stephanie G Worrell; Mara B Antonoff Journal: JTCVS Open Date: 2020-07-25
Authors: Alexander A Brescia; Clauden Louis; Jessica G Y Luc; Garrett N Coyan; Jason J Han; David Blitzer; Fatima G Wilder; Curtis S Bergquist; Jordan P Bloom; Rishindra M Reddy; Gurjit Sandhu; J Hunter Mehaffey Journal: JTCVS Open Date: 2022-05-13