Abstract
Background:Vice chairs (VCs) of research play an integral role in orthopaedic departments at academic medical centers; they strategically lead research efforts and support the research careers of faculty and trainees. To our knowledge, no analysis of orthopaedic VCs of research exists in the literature, and no similar analyses have been completed in other medical specialties. We aimed to investigate the academic and demographic characteristics of orthopaedic VCs of research.Methods:Doximity was used to identify orthopaedic residencies in the U.S. Personal and program websites were queried to identify VCs of research and collect academic and demographic characteristics. The Scopus database, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) RePORTER, and Google Scholar were used to obtain each investigator's Hirsch index (h-index) and the number and type of NIH grants awarded, respectively.Results:Of the 207 orthopaedic residency programs identified, 71 (34%) had a named VC of research in the orthopaedic department. Of the top 50 medical schools, 42 were affiliated with such programs. Most VCs were men (89%). The racial and/or ethnic background of the majority of VCs was White (85%), followed by Asian (14%), and Black (1%). Most held the rank of professor (78%), followed by associate professor (18%), and assistant professor (4%). Over half were PhDs (55%), followed by MDs (37%) and MD/PhDs (8%). On average, the VCs had an h-index of 40.5. Furthermore, 65% had been awarded at least 1 NIH grant for their research, with 43% awarded at least 1 R01 grant.Conclusions:VCs of research develop research opportunities and shape the brand recognition of academic orthopaedic programs. Most orthopaedic VCs of research are men (89%); 85% each are White and have a rank of professor. Nearly half have been awarded at least 1 R01 grant from the NIH.Clinical Relevance:This study outlines important academic and demographic characteristics among orthopaedic surgery VCs of research. Considering the mentorship aspect of their role, VCs of research have an opportunity to influence the diversity of incoming trainees in the field of academic orthopaedics.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2286-2291 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery |
| Volume | 106 |
| Issue number | 23 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 4 2024 |
Funding
The majority of VCs (65%) had been awarded at least 1 grant from the NIH. Particularly noteworthy was the fact that nearly half of the VCs (43%) had been successful in obtaining R01 grants, which are considered prestigious and highly competitive funding opportunities. While these results suggest that VCs are successful in securing NIH grants, the current literature suggests that funding to orthopaedics lags behind funding to other surgical subspecialties. A study on the funding of orthopaedic departments revealed that NIH research funding has not kept pace with the growing burden of musculoskeletal disease. This discrepancy is particularly apparent as NIH funding for other conditions continues to rise despite the relatively higher burden of musculoskeletal disease. These findings underscore the need for greater NIH support for orthopaedic VCs of research, who play a pivotal role in addressing the mounting health and economic challenges posed by musculoskeletal disease.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine