The road to success: factors affecting the speed of promotion of academic radiologists.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' purpose was to determine the factors influencing the speed of promotion of academic radiologists.


METHODS
Three hundred forty-three surveys from faculty members of academic radiology departments with continuous academic careers were analyzed for time in rank at assistant and associate professor levels in relation to publication rate, grant funding rate, and distribution of professional time. Individuals promoted faster than the median time (6 years for assistant professors, 5 years for associate professors) were considered "fast track" and were compared with the remainder of the group.


RESULTS
At the assistant professor level, fast track individuals had significantly higher rates of total publications and original articles than did others. At the level of associate professor, fast track individuals had significantly faster rates of publication of original articles, but no significant difference existed in total publication rate. No significant difference was found in the rate of founding of fast track individuals and others. Those with funding were not more likely to be on a fast track than those without funding. Fast track individuals spent significantly more time in administration at the assistant professor level than did other faculty, but no other significant differences were discovered in time distribution at the assistant or associate professor level.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of publishing original articles at the assistant and associate professor levels and the rate of overall publication at the assistant professor level were the most important parameters in predicting speed of promotion.
Vydareny
K H
KH
Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Waldrop
S M
SM
Jackson
V P
VP
Manaster
B J
BJ
Nazarian
G K
GK
Reich
C A
CA
Ruzal-Shapiro
C B
CB
D000328:Adult; D002322:Career Mobility; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011871:Radiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States