Career perceptions of young academic oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the perceptions and motivation of young full-time academic oral and maxillofacial surgeons who chose a career in academia and their experiences as faculty members.


METHODS
An 11-item questionnaire was sent to the chairman of all nonmilitary American Dental Association-accredited oral and maxillofacial surgery training programs (total of 90 training programs), requesting that this questionnaire be completed by all full-time faculty who completed surgical residency between 1997 and 2003.


RESULTS
Forty-eight completed surveys were included in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
The primary motivation to pursue a career in academic oral and maxillofacial surgery was the opportunity to perform major maxillofacial surgery, closely followed by a desire to teach dental students and surgical residents. Most respondents noted that they had the opportunity to pursue a faculty practice, and most believed that they worked in a supportive environment. However, several noted that they did not have faculty practice opportunities, and most did not have protected time to carry out research, administrative, or other scholarly activities.
Aziz
Shahid R
SR
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, UMDNJ-NJ Dental School, Newark, NJ 07013, USA. azizsr@umdnj.edu
Ziccardi
Vincent B
VB
Janal
Malvin
M
Ramnauth
Shrimattie
S
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires