title: Academic plastic surgery: faculty recruitment and retention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A critical element of a thriving academic plastic surgery program is the quality of faculty. A decline in recruitment and retention of faculty has been attributed to the many challenges of academic medicine. Given the substantial resources required to develop faculty, academic plastic surgery has a vested interest in improving the process of faculty recruitment and retention.
  
  
  METHODS
  The American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons Issues Committee and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons/Plastic Surgery Foundation Academic Affairs Council surveyed the 83 existing programs in academic plastic surgery in February of 2012. The survey addressed the faculty-related issues in academic plastic surgery programs over the past decade. Recruitment and retention strategies were evaluated. This study was designed to elucidate trends, and define best strategies, on a national level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Academic plastic surgery programs have added substantially more full-time faculty over the past decade. Recruitment efforts are multifaceted and can include guaranteed salary support, moving expenses, nurse practitioner/physician's assistant hires, protected time for research, seed funds to start research programs, and more. Retention efforts can include increased compensation, designation of a leadership appointment, protected academic time, and call dilution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant change and growth of academic plastic surgery has occurred in the past decade. Effective faculty recruitment and retention are critical to a successful academic center. Funding sources in addition to physician professional fees (institutional program support, grants, contracts, endowment, and so on) are crucial to sustain the academic missions.
authors.affiliation: Madison, Wis.; Rochester, N.Y.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Iowa City, Iowa; Temple, Texas; Seattle, Wash.; and Indianapolis, Ind. From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Rochester; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Scott and White Healthcare; Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Jenny T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Girotto
authors.forename: W John
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kitzmiller
authors.forename: W Thomas
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Charles N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Verheyden
authors.forename: Nicholas B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Vedder
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bentz
mesh_terms: D002322:Career Mobility; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data