D67. Growing Pains to Collaborative Gains: A Longitudinal Evaluation of a Multi-decade Clinical Research Fellowship Program

PURPOSE: Research remains a foundational component of academic plastic surgery and is crucial for advancement of the specialty. This longitudinal analysis provides key insights from a multi-decade experience of an established clinical research fellowship, highlighting its educational impact and collaborative-first approach. METHODS: A complete program evaluation was performed. All research fellows (RF) within the program from July 2008-July 2020 were examined during their year of employment and subsequent two years. Internal and external collaborations trends were assessed using PubMed affiliations. Research impact was characterized by publication count, journal impact factor, and journal diversity. RESULTS: Thirty-five RFs were identified over 12 years. In 2014, a second position was added to the initial annual single position, expanding further in 2017 by augmenting the existing positions with 2-4 research personnel. Overall, significant growth was observed in the collaborative networks p=0.008, publications p=0.003, journal impact factor p=0.022) and journal diversity [p=0.0002. A cycle of productivity was noted to occur every three years. A shift towards more external collaborations occurred after 2016 p=0.008. A positive correlation was observed between external collaborations and academic output (r=0.72, p<0.001), journal diversity (r=0.74, p<0.001), and journal impact (r=0.49, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: As result of institutional support and our strategic decision to engage experts across multiple disciplines, there is discernible improvement in measurable impact, contributing to the growth of our multi-decade program. Dedicating resources to foster deeper collaborations can enrich the field of plastic surgery research, recognizing that this investment fuels the cycle of productivity, offering promising returns to the future.