Factors Impacting Academic Productivity and Satisfaction of Surgeon-scientists

Objective: To identify factors related to research success for academic surgeons. Summary Background Data: Many recognize mounting barriers to scientific success for academic surgeons, but little is known about factors that predict success for individual surgeons. Methods: A phase 1 survey was emailed to department chairpersons at highly funded US departments of surgery. Participating chairpersons distributed a phase 2 survey to their faculty surgeons. Training- and faculty-stage exposures and demographic data were collected and compared with participant-reported measures of research productivity. Five primary measures of productivity were assessed including number of grants applied for, grants funded, papers published, first/senior author papers published, and satisfaction in research. Results: Twenty chairpersons and 464 faculty surgeons completed the survey, and 444 faculty responses were included in the final analysis. Having a research-focused degree was significantly associated with more grants applied for (PhD, incidence rate ratio (IRR)=6.93; masters, IRR=4.34) and funded (PhD, IRR=4.74; masters, IRR=4.01) compared to surgeons with only clinical degrees (all P <0.01). Having a formal research mentor was significantly associated with more grants applied for (IRR=1.57, P =0.03) and higher satisfaction in research (IRR=2.22, P <0.01). Contractually protected research time was significantly associated with more grants applied for (IRR=3.73), grants funded (IRR=2.14), papers published (IRR=2.12), first/senior authors published (IRR=1.72), and research satisfaction (Odds ratio=2.15) (all P <0.01). The primary surgeon-identified barrier to research productivity was lack of protection from clinical burden. Conclusions: Surgeons pursuing research-focused careers should consider the benefits of attaining a research-focused degree, negotiating for contractually protected research time, and obtaining formal research mentorship.