2023 FSA Podium and Poster Abstracts
P070: CURRENT TRENDS AND DEMOGRAPHICS IN LEADERSHIP AT ADULT CARDIOTHORACIC ANESTHESIOLOGY FELLOWSHIPS
Phillip Cifuentes, BA1; Michael Zalkind, BS1; Zachary D Zippi, Pharm, D1; Juan C Alvarez, BS1; Juan C Ramirez, BA, BS1; Kevin Vallejo, BS1; Benjamin I Schachner, MS, MPH2; Oscar D Aljure, MD2; 1Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine; 2University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Introduction/ Background: Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology is a specialized field dedicated to providing comprehensive care to patients during all stages of Cardiothoracic surgery and associated procedures. Fellowship Directors (FDs) hold an essential role, as they impart their knowledge and expertise to shape the training and education of upcoming generations of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist. The research set forth is aimed to identify and evaluate trends seen in the demographic make-up and prior training history within adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (ACTA) FDs in the United States.
Methods: The FDs included in our search were obtained through the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology (SCA) Fellowship Program List. The information collected for our data included age, gender, ethnicity, residency and fellowship training institution, length of time since training completion until FD, age at FD appointment, duration as FD, Hirsch-index (h-Index) to measure research activity.
Results: A total of 74 FDs were identified from cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowships in the United States. Females accounted for 36.49% (n=27) while males filled 62.16% (n=46) of FD positions. Average age of FDs was 48.8 years (SD 9.5, median 45, range 36-70). The average age of appointment to the role of FD was 41 years. Graduation from residency for current FDs was in 2008 on average, while graduation from fellowship was in 2010 on average. ACTA FDs had an average H-index of 6.7 (SD 8.4, n=71) and an average number of publications of 29.4 (SD 62.9, n=71). The top 3 most producing residency programs were John Hopkins University (n=5), Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School (n=4), and New York Presbyterian Hospital (n=3). While the top 3 most producing fellowship programs were John Hopkins University (n=6), Duke University (n=5), and New York Presbyterian Hospital (n=3).
Conclusion: ACTA FDs are not entirely research-oriented; however, they may have a larger focus on their fellowship trainees. We identified programs for both residency and fellowship which seem to show a strong connection for producing the most FDs. This research may serve as a guide for future medical students, residents, or fellows who are interested in this field of anesthesiology and are seeking to assist in the growth of our next generation of cardiothoracic anesthesiologists.