Where are they now? Career Trajectories of Geriatricians after being awarded Certificate of Successful Completion of Training in Geriatric Medicine

Background A Certificate of Successful Completion of Specialist Training (CSCST) is awarded on completion of Higher Specialist Training (HST) in Geriatric Medicine. A yearly list of doctors completing training and being awarded CSCST is published by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland since 2018. In this observational study we examined the current professional status of Geriatricians who recently completed the HST program in Geriatric Medicine and were awarded CSCST. Methods We reviewed the current status of Geriatricians awarded CSCST since 2018 and cross referenced with the medical council register to examine what proportion are currently working as Geriatricians in Ireland. We examined what was the primary university of graduation and time from graduation to being awarded CSCST. Results CSCST was awarded to 46 doctors from 2018 to 2023 inclusive. 67% (n = 31) were female. The median number of years from entry on the medical council to being awarded CSCST was 11 years (IQR 10 – 11, range 9-21). 96% (n = 44) of geriatricians completed their primary medical degree in Ireland. University College Cork was the University from which most Geriatricians had graduated (32% of Irish graduates). 87% (n = 40) of Geriatricians are currently on the specialist register for Geriatric medicine in Ireland. Of the six not currently on the specialist register, two are undertaking research in Ireland, two are completing international fellowships, one doctor is working as a consultant in Australia, and one doctor is on maternity leave. Conclusion There is a high rate of retention of graduates of the Geriatric medicine HST program. Most graduates of the program went to an Irish medical school with a median time of 11 years from primary degree qualification to CSCST. To build on this we plan to complete a wider study examining individual factors that influence job satisfaction and retention of Geriatricians.