MD–PhD Program Graduates’ Engagement in Research: Results of a National Study

Purpose To determine if specialty, among other professional development and demographic variables, predicted MD–PhD program graduates’ research engagement. Method The authors merged the 2015 Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) National MD–PhD Program Outcomes Survey database with selected data from the AAMC Student Records System, Graduation Questionnaire, and Graduate Medical Education (GME) Track Resident Survey. At the person level, they tested variables of interest for independent associations with MD–PhD graduates’ research engagement using chi-square, Pearson correlations, and analysis of variance tests and logistic and linear regressions. Results Of 3,297 MD–PhD graduates from 1991–2010 who were no longer in GME training in 2015, 78.0% (2,572/3,297) reported research engagement. In models controlling for several variables, a neurology (vs internal medicine; adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.60–3.86) or pathology (vs internal medicine; AOR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.33–2.68) specialty, full-time faculty/research scientist career intention at graduation (vs all other career intentions; AOR: 3.04; 95% CI: 2.16–4.28), and ≥ 1 year of GME research (vs no GME research year[s]; AOR: 2.45; 95% CI: 1.96–3.06) predicted a greater likelihood of research engagement. Among graduates engaged in research, the mean percentage of research time was 49.9% (standard deviation 30.1%). Participation in ≥ 1 year of ...
Source: Academic Medicine - Category: Universities & Medical Training Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research