The academic background and career plans of oral & maxillofacial SpR/StRs in the United Kingdom

While many in other specialties are undertaking fulltime higher degrees, those in our specialty are undertakingtheir second undergraduate degree. This has led to few dualqualified academic oral & maxillofacial surgeons. To planappropriately for academic training in our specialty, pollingthe career interests of those currently training is useful.A electronic questionnaire was sent to all SpR/StRsin OMFS. Demographic and career information, aca-demic background, examinations passed and intentions forfellowship were recorded. Numbers of publications and pre-sentations as well as time out for higher degrees and grantsobtained was gathered in an attempt to quantify the academicprowess of oral & maxillofacial surgery SpR/StR. The mostfrequent date to finish medical school was 2006. The mostfrequent date to finish dental school was 1996. 32.7% haveobtained a higher degree.The response rate was 60%. The average age of respon-dents was 37. 85% were male. The most frequently chosensub specialty interest was Trauma with 64.3%. OncologyandOrthagnathicsbothreceived55.7%.Academic(teaching)received 20% and Academic (research) received just 8.6%.76.4% were keen to undertake a fellowship near the end oftheirtraining.Ofthecurrenttrainees,“dentistryfirst”ismorecommon.The academic background in OMFS is strong. Thoseselecting to specialty training in OMFS are now aware ofthe standard. Those applying can be aware of the potentialcompetition. Few are interested in academic OMFS, manyof these have an exceptional academic record in terms ofpublications, presentations and grants obtained.doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2011.03.250