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Faculty attrition in obstetrics and gynecology.

Autry A, Irby D, Hodgson C

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore why obstetrician/gynecologists leave academic practice. STUDY DESIGN: From a sample of 5000 ACOG fellows, we identified obstetrician/gynecologists in faculty positions and those who had left academic practice. These groups were sent a survey to explore aspects of job satisfaction. Relationships between variables were tested using chi2 analyses. Means were computed for each subscale and differences between current and past faculty were tested with a multivariate analysis of variance model. RESULTS: There was a 65% response rate to the job satisfaction survey for a total of 280 current faculty and 146 previous faculty. There was no difference between the groups in job satisfaction. Faculty rated opportunities for teaching and administration more important as components of job satisfaction. Practitioners who left academics were more likely to be previous junior faculty and generalists. CONCLUSION: Junior faculty and generalists are more likely to leave academic practice than senior faculty and subspecialists.

Published 5 June 2007 in Am J Obstet Gynecol, 196(6): 603.e1-4; discussion 603.e5.
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