title: Opportunities to improve recruitment into medical genetics residency programs: survey results of program directors and medical genetics residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Approximately 50% of medical genetics residency positions remain unfilled each year. This study was designed to assess current recruitment strategies used by program directors, to identify factors that influenced trainees to choose medical genetics as a career, and to use these results as a foundation to develop a strategic plan to address the challenges of recruitment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two surveys were created, one for program directors and one for current medical genetics residents, to evaluate current recruiting efforts and institutional support for programs and to identify factors that helped trainees choose genetics as a career.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Program directors identified the most successful recruiting methods as "direct contact with residents or medical students" and "word of mouth" (80%). Residents listed having a mentor (50%), previous research in genetics (35%), and genetics coursework (33%) as the top reasons that influenced them to enter the field.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Geneticists should become more proactive in providing resources to students to help them understand a career as a medical geneticist and mentor those students/residents who show true interest in the field. Results of these surveys spurred the development of the Task Force on Medical Genetics Education and Training of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (CMMG), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cichon
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (CMMG), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA [2] Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA [3] Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Gerald L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002321:Career Choice; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005826:Genetics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010560:Personnel Selection; D010820:Physicians; D013337:Students, Medical; D014830:Vocational Guidance