Introducing Trainees to Academic Medicine Career Roles and Responsibilities

INTRODUCTION: The future of academic medicine depends on attracting motivated trainees to the academic career path, but challenges to recruitment include unfamiliarity with academic career options. METHODS: This workshop comprises a didactic session with small-group case discussion to enable trainees to learn how to: (1) define academic medical center roles and responsibilities, (2) assess the alignment of academic medical center roles with personal goals and interests, and (3) identify factors that support an academic medicine career trajectory. Workshop evaluations were collected at five academic medicine conferences for medical students and residents held across the U.S. RESULTS: Among the 139 conference participants who completed an evaluation form, the majority had a statistically significant increase in confidence regarding their building a foundation for a career in academic medicine, and in identifying an academic medicine career role aligning with their own personal and professional interests. The majority strongly agreed or agreed that the workshop objectives were met. Trainees reported that the workshop was “illuminating,” “informative,” and “educational.” DISCUSSION: Improved understanding of academic medicine career roles and responsibilities can increase trainees' awareness of the opportunities in academic medicine and may support development of the next generation of academic physicians.