title: Evaluation of Association Between Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Length and a Career in Academic Medicine.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine the association between gynecologic oncology fellowship training factors, including fellowship length, and a career in academic medicine. A survey was sent to all 980 gynecologic oncologists identified via the SGO membership directory. The survey questions focused on demographics, fellowship training, practice- type, and research involvement. Demographics of the study population and survey responses were reported using frequencies and percentages. Chi-squared tests were used to test for associations between selected survey responses and length of fellowship. The authors received 410 (42 %) responses. Most respondents (60 %) graduated from a 3-year fellowship, while 27 and 13 % attended 2- and 4-year fellowships, respectively. Practice descriptions included academic/university (52 %), community/private practice (21 %), private practice with academic appointment (20 %), and other (7 %). A majority (64 %) reported current involvement in research as a principal investigator (PI); however, 54 % reported spending 10 % or less of their time in research-related activities. Approximately half reported that their fellowship research experience contributed to their current practice. Graduates of 3- and 4-year fellowships had similar rates of employment in academic/university settings (58 and 52 %, respectively). Graduates of 4-year fellowships were more likely to hold an advanced degree and 11 or more publications at completion of fellowship. A majority of graduates of a gynecologic oncology fellowship practice in an academic/university setting and are involved in research. Fellowship length does not correlate with a current academic medicine appointment. Graduates of 4-year fellowships are more likely to hold additional advanced degrees and more publications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, 17036, USA. jkesterson@hmc.psu.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kesterson
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: J Brian
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Szender
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, 17036, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Shashikant
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lele
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frederick
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002321:Career Choice; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Fellowship; Gynecologic oncology; Training