Rising educational debt levels in recent dermatology trainees and effects on career choices.
BACKGROUND
Educational debt levels are outpacing inflation.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether debt levels influence career choices of graduating dermatology residents.


METHODS
Anonymous surveys of graduating dermatology residents.


RESULTS
The presence of debt was associated negatively with pursuing fellowship training in 1999 and 2004 (P < .05) but did not affect choices about entering solo practice or job dissatisfaction levels.


CONCLUSIONS
This study relies on self-reported data, and some surveys were incomplete.


CONCLUSIONS
Debt levels do not appear to significantly influence the career choices of dermatology residents.
Salter
Sharon A
SA
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Kimball
Alexa B
AB
D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D003880:Dermatology / Q000191:economics* / Q000193:education; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D014146:Training Support / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce