Abstract
Objective
Little is known about the association between mentorship and career choice during
residency in pediatrics. This study examines graduating residents with mentors who
provide career advice and the relationship between having a mentor who is a subspecialist
and having a subspecialty practice goal.
Methods
National, random samples of 1000 graduating pediatrics residents were surveyed each
year from 2006 to 2012; 4197 (61%) responded. Responses were pooled across years to
examine mentor specialty and career goal at time of residency graduation. Multivariable
logistic regression was used to examine relationships between mentor specialty and
career goal at the time of graduation.
Results
Most (87%) residents reported having a mentor who provided career advice during residency;
the proportion linearly increased from 83% in 2006 to 87% in 2012; P < .05. Forty-five percent of those with mentors had a mentor who was a subspecialist;
55% had a generalist as a mentor. Overall, 45% of residents had a subspecialty career
goal at time of graduation. After controlling for career goal at the start of residency
and resident characteristics, residents with a subspecialist mentor were more likely
to have a subspecialty career goal at time of graduation (adjusted odds ratio = 5.25;
95% confidence interval, 4.41–6.25). Residents who were male, without children, without
debt, not married, not minority, and from larger residency programs were also more
likely to have a subspecialty career goal at the time of graduation from residency.
Conclusions
Almost 9 in 10 pediatric residents have a mentor who provides career advice. Although
multiple factors shape decisions about careers, mentor specialty is one factor that
might encourage residents to pursue fellowship training.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
March 3,
2014
Received:
October 22,
2013
Footnotes
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
