title: Does the H Index Correlate With Academic Rank Among Full-Time Academic Craniofacial Surgeons?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between the H index and the academic rank among full-time academic craniofacial surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study of full-time academic craniofacial surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were compiled and analyzed at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample included 127 full-time academic craniofacial surgeons. Overall, 89% were men, the mean number of years since completion of training was 16.2 ± 11.2 years. Most surgeons had a background in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Approximately 75% had completed formal fellowship training. The mean H index for the sample was 12.4 ± 9.9. The H index was strongly correlated with academic rank (rs= 0.62, p < 0.001). In a multiple linear regression model, adjusting for multiple confounders/effect modifiers, including number of years since training and total number of publications, the H index was significantly associated with academic rank (coefficient = 0.33, p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among full-time academic craniofacial surgeons, the H index is strongly correlated with the academic rank.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Srinivas M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Susarla
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rada
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Edward W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Devin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Redett
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: AKUMAR40@JHMI.EDU.
authors.forename: Anand R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000076363:Academic Success; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D011642:Publications / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: H index; Interpersonal and Communication Skills; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; Systems-Based Practice; academic medicine; academic promotion; bibliometrics; craniofacial surgery