Career Development Needs of Vice Chairs for Education in Departments of Surgery

AimTo identify the career development needs Vice Chair for Education in Surgery Departments (VCESDs).MethodsIn all, 33 VCESDs were invited to complete an online survey to identify the scope of duties, scholarly activity, job satisfaction, and career development needs.ResultsA total of 29/33 (88%) VCESDs responded. Time constraints were the most frequent impediment for MDs vs. PhDs (p < 0.05). Dominant faculty development needs were conducting educational research (2.0 ± 0.78 for MDs, 1.33 ± 0.76 for PhDs), developing resident selection systems (1.68 ± 0.73), and mentorship programs (1.95 ± 0.77) for MDs, and developing teach the teacher programs (1 ± 0), and program performance evaluation systems (1.33 ± 0.76) for PhDs. The skills deemed to be of greatest importance were ability to communicate effectively (1.27 ± 0.55), resolve personnel conflicts (1.32 ± 0.57), and introduce change (1.41 ± 0.59). PhDs revealed a greater need to learn strategies for dealing with disruptive faculty (1.0 ± 0 vs 2.15 ± 0.87).ConclusionsThis information will inform the future career development of VCESDs and will assist Department Chairs who wish to recruit and retain VCESDs.