title: Six-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency applicants: characteristics, expectations, and concerns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  During the past 5 years, 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency programs have increased in number and popularity.
  
  
  METHODS
  To understand the background and motivation of the applicants for 6-year integrated programs, we surveyed 80 candidates interviewing for Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency programs for the 2012 match season, with 36 respondents completing the survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The applicants interviewed for 6-year integrated programs had peer-reviewed publications (91.7%) and were interested in academic careers (91.4%), dedicated research time (58.3%), and cardiac surgery (66.7%). The time saved in training was considered an advantage of the 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency programs, although concern was present about the development of the mature, well-rounded cardiothoracic surgeon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that most of the candidates for 6-year integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency were young, high-achieving individuals oriented toward academic careers with a significant interest in dedicated research time and cardiac surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Vakhtang
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tchantchaleishvili
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barrus
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Carolyn E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: George L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Hicks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D035843:Biomedical Research; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D002321:Career Choice; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D017712:Peer Review, Research; D010560:Personnel Selection; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload
keywords: 2; 6-year integrated CT surgery; ACGME; Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; CT; CT I-6; cardiothoracic