An In-depth Bibliometric Study of Complex General Surgical Oncology (CGSO) Fellowship Graduates Within the First 5-year Period of Independent Practice

Introduction The objective of the study is to create a bibliometric profile for recent graduates of complex general surgical oncology (CGSO) fellows to understand their very early career trajectory and inform the current training paradigm. Methods Bibliometric profiling of applicants to our CGSO fellowship program from 2017 to 2021 who completed an accredited program were included. Impact factors were adjusted for authorship position and type of publication. Results Among 232 CGSO graduates, 106 (45.7%) were female, 118 (50.9%) practice at a university-based flagship hospital (UBFH), 57 (43.2%) published, on average, more than 2 manuscripts per year after at least 2 years in independent practice. The median years in independent practice were 3 years (range 1-5 years). As they progressed in their training and career, the proportions of graduates who published, their level of involvement, the type, and quality of their publications evolved. Only 24 (10.3%) graduates published in basic science or translational research studies after fellowship. In a linear regression model, institution type (estimated means UBFH 7.1 vs. non-UBFH 2.8, p < 0.001), publications before fellowship (β coefficient 14, p < 0.001), publications during fellowship (β coefficient 0.33, p < 0.001), and years since graduating fellowship (β coefficient 2.52, p < 0.001) were associated with more publications during independent practice. Conclusion Majority of CGSO graduates do not consistently publish after fellowship. a minority of them engage in basic science or translational research despite great emphasis during fellowship application. A dual-track model to differentiate clinical and research-oriented fellows is needed.