The contribution of MD-PhD training to academic orthopaedic faculties.
Little is known about the distribution of research-trained physicians across the various specialties. To document the extent to which MD-PhD programs are a source of research-trained faculty for orthopaedic departments, this study examined the specialty choices of graduates of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) from 1964 to 1994. The MSTP, a combined MD-PhD program supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, (NIGMS), produces roughly 25% of all MD-PhDs in the US.


METHODS
Copies of the appendices from training grant applications containing information on MSTP graduates were obtained from the NIGMS. Also, a questionnaire was mailed to 116 university-affiliated orthopaedic surgery departments asking how many faculty were MD's, PhDs or MD-PhDs.


RESULTS
Records were obtained for all MST programs. Information on postdoctoral training and/or a current position was reported for 1615 graduates who earned both MD and PhD. Of these graduates, 277 chose non-clinical paths. The other 1338 entered a residency or internship. Of these, 593 were still in residency training, 566 were academic faculty members and 130 were in private practice. In the records, 12 (0.9%) were listed as orthopaedic surgical residents (6) or faculty (6). At this time, all 12 have completed training, and 11 are in academic practice. Eighty-three departments replied to the questionnaire. In that sample of 1761 faculty positions, 1478 were MDs, 217 were PhDs and 36 (2.0%) were MD-PhDs.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite robust support of MD-PhD programs, the number of dual degree recipients on orthopaedic faculties is small when compared to the relative size of the specialty. Other sources of research-trained staff should perhaps be developed.
Clark
J M
JM
University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle 98195-3565, USA. drclark@u.washington.edu
Hanel
D P
DP
D002321:Career Choice; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014146:Training Support / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce