title: Characteristics of cardiothoracic surgeons practicing at the top-ranked US institutions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to determine which factors distinguish cardiothoracic (CT) surgeons practicing at the top-ranked US institutions from their peers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using online resources, we collected demographics, training information and academic metrics of 694 cardiac (n=489; 70%) and thoracic (n=205; 30%) surgeons practicing at 57 preeminent US institutions, including those with the highest US News & World Report ranking ("top CT centers").
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and ninety-nine (43.1%) CT surgeons were practicing at the 18 "top CT centers" and had higher academic productivity (publications, citations) than their peers. While there was no difference in the proportion of international medical graduates (IMGs) (21.4% overall) or of surgeons with a PhD degree (9.4% overall) across institutions, the "top CT centers" had a higher proportion of faculty who received their entire CT training abroad (10.4%vs. 5.8%; P=0.038) or at highly-ranked US institutions. Those who published more during their early career years (residency, fellowship and first 5 years as faculty) were more likely to attain academic (professorship) and institutional leadership (division/department chair) positions and to practice at the "top CT centers". Women represented a minority (7.3% overall; 5.1% of cardiacvs. 12.7% of thoracic surgeons, P<0.001), but with growing prevalence among younger faculty and without differences across institutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT surgeons of the best US centers have a more international background and received their training at highly-ranked institutions. Early academic productivity is associated with life-long career achievements, with special importance of the first 5 years as faculty. Women represent a growing proportion of the CT surgical workforce.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Carlo Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Leonidas G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Koniaris
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molena
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blitzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tahboub
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Panos N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Vardas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Leonard N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Girardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaudino
keywords: Academic productivity; gender disparities; international medical graduates (IMGs); surgical education