Resources and rewards for clerkship directors: how surgery compares.
BACKGROUND
Clerkship directors (CDs) are key educators and active clinicians. In 2003, the Alliance for Clinical Education published standards for CD resources and responsibilities, but how reality compares is unknown.


METHODS
Representatives from each core clinical disciplines' CD organizations created an electronic survey that CDs received in 2006-2007.


RESULTS
More than 500 CDs responded, including 71 surgeons. Surgeons reported spending approximately 27% of professional time on education. Most have codirectors, so total CD effort approximates the greater than 50% Alliance for Clinical Education guidelines. No disciplines' CDs have more than one support staff as recommended. Surgeons have the least clinic time, but the most inpatient weeks and many publications. Surgery CD concerns are curricula and simulation; few believe being a CD impairs academic advancement and more than 95% believe it enhances work satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgery CDs are clinically active and academically productive. Although few surgery CDs have the recommended support staff, more than 95% report being a CD enhances work satisfaction.
Ephgrave
Kimberly
K
Department of Surgery, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, 200 Newton Rd., Iowa City, IA 52242-2600, USA. kimberly-ephgrave@uiowa.edu
Ferguson
Kristi
K
Shaaban
Aimen
A
Hoshi
Hisakazu
H
D002322:Career Mobility; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D006295:Health Resources / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008486:Physician Executives; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States