This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (3)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Pediatrics, Other  • Alert me on articles by topic  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Factors Leading to Residents’ Career Decisions Over a 12-Year Period

Mary Catherine Harris, MD; Jamie Marx, BA; Paul R. Gallagher, MA; Stephen Ludwig, MD

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159:212-216.

Objectives  To determine factors motivating residents’ career choices and to examine changes in these priorities over the last 12 years. During the last decade, surveys of pediatric training programs have shown trends toward residents choosing careers in general pediatrics rather than in subspecialties. Most recently, there is evidence of a shift back toward subspecialty careers.

Design  We surveyed past and present residents at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa, (training completion dates, 1991-2002) via an anonymous written questionnaire.

Results  The sample comprised 238 residents (mean ± SD age, 30 ± 3 years; 59% female, 41% male; 47% subspecialists, 53% generalists). Among the group as a whole, subject matter, role models, lifestyle issues, and teaching were the most important determinants for career choices. Less important were national trends, job openings, and research. When subspecialists and generalists were compared, both groups found subject matter to be their highest priority. Among residents interested in subspecialties, teaching, research, and technical skills were significant (P<.001), compared with generalists, who considered lifestyle and personal/financial issues more important (P<.001). Lifestyle issues were also more important to female residents, those 30 years of age or younger, and those completing training recently (P<.05).

Conclusions  Career decisions for pediatric residents today are motivated by complex factors. For those choosing generalist careers, lifestyle and personal/financial considerations predominate, while teaching, research, and technical skills are key factors for subspecialists. Over the last decade, lifestyle issues have become a more dominant factor, particularly for women entering the pediatric workforce.

Author Affiliations: Divisions of Neonatology (Dr Harris), General Pediatrics (Ms Marx and Dr Ludwig), and Biostatistics (Mr Gallagher), Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

General Pediatrics Resident Perspectives on Training Decisions and Career Choice
Freed et al.
Pediatrics 2009;123:S26-S30.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Recently Trained General Pediatricians: Perspectives on Residency Training and Scope of Practice
Freed et al.
Pediatrics 2009;123:S38-S43.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Recently Trained Pediatric Subspecialists: Perspectives on Training and Scope of Practice
Freed et al.
Pediatrics 2009;123:S44-S49.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

What Can Data Tell Us About the Quality and Relevance of Current Pediatric Residency Education?
Leslie
Pediatrics 2009;123:S50-S55.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Comparison of Canadian Pediatric Resident Career Plans in 1998 and 2006
Shamseer et al.
Pediatrics 2008;122:e1199-e1209.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pediatricians Leading the Way: Integrating a Career and a Family/Personal Life Over the Life Cycle
Shrier et al.
Pediatrics 2006;117:519-522.
FULL TEXT  

The Pediatric Subspecialty Workforce: Public Policy and Forces for Change
Jewett et al.
Pediatrics 2005;116:1192-1202.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT