72. Factors That Influence Leadership Roles in Plastic Surgery

PURPOSE: Little is known regarding the factors that may influence plastic surgeons to become leaders in the field. The purpose of this study was to determine fellowship training characteristics that influenced leadership status throughout plastic surgeons’ careers. METHODS: Plastic surgeons who received board certification between 2002 and 2013 were included in this study. A web search collected data on fellowship training status, MBA education, and leadership positions. Leadership positions that surgeons held or currently hold included chair/chief, program director, and national positions within plastic surgery societies. Logistic regression identified the predictors RESULTS: 2190 surgeons who received board certification between 2002 and 2013 were included in this study. The model revealed that factors influencing whether surgeons held or currently hold a chair or chief position included year of certification (5% decrease in probability between 2002 and 2013, p =.009), craniofacial fellowship (8% average increase in probability, p <.001), and international fellowship (13% average increase in probability, p =.008). Factors influencing whether plastic surgeons held or currently hold a program director position included year of board certification (5% increase in probability between 2002 and 2013, p =.043), aesthetic fellowship (5% average decrease in probability, p =.011), and no fellowship (6% average decrease in probability, p <.001). Factors influencing whether surgeons held or currently hold a national leadership position include year of board certification (1.81% increase in probability between 2002 and 2013, p <.003), MBA degree (10% average increase in probability, p <.001), and international fellowship (4% average increase in probability, p =.032). CONCLUSION: Chair/chief positions favor more experienced surgeons while program directors and national positions favor surgeons certified more recently. Craniofacial and international training have positive effects in predicting chairs or chiefs. Aesthetic training and lack of fellowship training have negative effects in predicting program directors. An MBA degree and international training have positive effects in predicting national positions. Understanding factors that may influence leadership status will better elucidate paths to holding these roles in one’s career.