title: Impact of mentor guidance in surgical career selection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fedorka
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Buchmiller-Crair
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Fonkalsrud
mesh_terms: 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