Career Needs Assessment for Early Career Academic Surgeons Using a Modified Accelerated Delphi Process

TY - JOUR

T1 - Career Needs Assessment for Early Career Academic Surgeons Using a Modified Accelerated Delphi Process

AU - Fleming,

AU - Augustinus,

AU - Lemmers,

AU - López- López,

AU - Nitschke, Christine

AU - Farges,

AU - Salminen,

AU - O’Connell,

AU - Campos, null

AU - Caiazzo, null

AU - European Surgical Association

PY - 2023/11/1

Y1 - 2023/11/1

N2 - Introduction: Over the past 2 decades, physicians’ wellbeing has become a topic of interest. It is currently unclear what the current needs are of early career academic surgeons (ECAS).Methods: Consensus statements on academic needs were developed during a Delphi process, including all presenters from the previous European Surgical Association (ESA) meetings (2018-2022). The Delphi involved (1) a literature review, (2) Delphi form generation, and (3) an accelerated Delphi process. The Delphi form was generated by a steering group that discussed findings identified within the literature. The modified accelerated e-consensus approach included 3 rounds over a 4-week period. Consensus was defined as >80% agreement in any round.Results: Forty respondents completed all 3 rounds of the Delphi. Median age was 37 years (interquartile range 5), and 53% were female. Majority were consultant/attending (52.5%), followed by PhD (22.5%), fellowship (15%), and residency (10%). ECAS was defined as a surgeon in ‘development’ years of clinical and academic practice relative to their career goals (87.9% agreement). Access to split academic and clinical contracts is desirable (87.5%). Consensus on the factors contributing to ECAS underperformance included: burnout (94.6%), lack of funding (80%), lack of mentorship (80%), and excessive clinical commitments (80%). Desirable factors to support ECAS development included: access to e-learning (90.9%), face-to-face networking opportunities (95%), support for research team development (100%), and specific formal mentorship (93.9%).Conclusion: The evolving role and responsibilities of ECAS require increasing strategic support, mentorship, and guidance on structured career planning. This will facilitate workforce sustainability in academic surgery in the future.

AB - Introduction: Over the past 2 decades, physicians’ wellbeing has become a topic of interest. It is currently unclear what the current needs are of early career academic surgeons (ECAS).Methods: Consensus statements on academic needs were developed during a Delphi process, including all presenters from the previous European Surgical Association (ESA) meetings (2018-2022). The Delphi involved (1) a literature review, (2) Delphi form generation, and (3) an accelerated Delphi process. The Delphi form was generated by a steering group that discussed findings identified within the literature. The modified accelerated e-consensus approach included 3 rounds over a 4-week period. Consensus was defined as >80% agreement in any round.Results: Forty respondents completed all 3 rounds of the Delphi. Median age was 37 years (interquartile range 5), and 53% were female. Majority were consultant/attending (52.5%), followed by PhD (22.5%), fellowship (15%), and residency (10%). ECAS was defined as a surgeon in ‘development’ years of clinical and academic practice relative to their career goals (87.9% agreement). Access to split academic and clinical contracts is desirable (87.5%). Consensus on the factors contributing to ECAS underperformance included: burnout (94.6%), lack of funding (80%), lack of mentorship (80%), and excessive clinical commitments (80%). Desirable factors to support ECAS development included: access to e-learning (90.9%), face-to-face networking opportunities (95%), support for research team development (100%), and specific formal mentorship (93.9%).Conclusion: The evolving role and responsibilities of ECAS require increasing strategic support, mentorship, and guidance on structured career planning. This will facilitate workforce sustainability in academic surgery in the future.

U2 - 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006014

DO - 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006014

M3 - SCORING: Review article

C2 - 37465982

VL - 278

SP - 655

EP - 661

JO - ANN SURG

JF - ANN SURG

SN - 0003-4932

IS - 5

ER -