Resources and rewards for clerkship directors: how surgery compares

Background: Clerkship directors (CDs) are key educators and active clinicians. In 2003, the Alliance for Clinical Education published standards for CD resources and responsibilities, but how reality compares is unknown. Methods: Representatives from each core clinical disciplines' CD organizations created an electronic survey that CDs received in 2006-2007. Results: More than 500 CDs responded, including 71 surgeons. Surgeons reported spending approximately 27% of professional time on education. Most have codirectors, so total CD effort approximates the greater than 50% Alliance for Clinical Education guidelines. No disciplines' CDs have more than one support staff as recommended. Surgeons have the least clinic time, but the most inpatient weeks and many publications. Surgery CD concerns are curricula and simulation; few believe being a CD impairs academic advancement and more than 95% believe it enhances work satisfaction. Conclusions: Surgery CDs are clinically active and academically productive. Although few surgery CDs have the recommended support staff, more than 95% report being a CD enhances work satisfaction.