Impact of mentor guidance in surgical career selection.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to survey graduates of a university general surgical residency training program to determine factors that influenced their selection of a specialty field.


METHODS
A 39-item questionnaire was mailed to 86 graduates of a university general surgery program who matriculated from 1975 to 1989. The impact of lifestyle, technology, clinical opportunity, and mentor guidance in the residents' selection of a specialty field and eventual clinical practice was assessed. Results were analyzed using Fisher's Exact test with significance determined at P less than.05.


RESULTS
The response rate was 65% (56 of 86). Eighty percent of respondents identified the most important aspect influencing their choice of specialty was interest in that field; additional factors included perception of prestige, presence of clinical opportunity, mentor influence, and family priorities. Sixty-six percent of respondents chose the same career as their mentor, attributing this to the mentor's skill (n = 36, 68%), achievements (n = 35, 66%), and verbal recommendations about their specialty field (n = 24, 45%), p < 0.05.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical residents use many criteria in selecting a field of specialty with mentor guidance an important component. Knowledge of these influential areas should help training programs offer appropriate career guidance. J Pediatr Surg 36:1802-1804.
Thakur
A
A
Division of Pediatric Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Fedorka
P
P
Ko
C
C
Buchmiller-Crair
T L
TL
Atkinson
J B
JB
Fonkalsrud
E W
EW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014830:Vocational Guidance