TY - JOUR
T1 - Cardiothoracic surgery training grants provide protected research time vital to the development of academic surgeons
AU - Narahari, Adishesh K.
AU - Charles, Eric J.
AU - Mehaffey, J. Hunter
AU - Hawkins, Robert B.
AU - Schubert, Sarah A.
AU - Tribble, Curtis G.
AU - Schuessler, Richard B.
AU - Damiano, Ralph J.
AU - Kron, Irving L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study evaluated all trainees supported by The Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award (T32) at 2 institutions with CT surgery T32 grants: The University of Virginia School of Medicine (1998–present) and The Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis (1994–present) (PIs, Drs Irving L. Kron and Ralph J. Damiano Jr, respectively). Two similar-sized institutions with dedicated research time but no CT surgery T32 grants were selected as a control group (non-T32). The non-T32 group includes graduates going back to 1984. A diagram of the number of trainees evaluated is shown in . Figure 1
Funding Information:
The objective of this study was to evaluate the research productivity and career trajectories of trainees (past and present) who were supported by the 2 active CT surgery T32 training grants. With potential NIH budget cuts looming, understanding the value of various funding mechanisms, such as T32 training grants, is paramount for ensuring continued medical advances. We hypothesized that T32 training grants support the development of academic CT surgeons, increase the yield of publications, and produce more NIH-funded CT surgeon-scientists.
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (Grants T32 HL007849, UM1 HL088925, and T32 GM007267).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - Background: The Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award (T32) provides institutions with financial support to prepare trainees for careers in academic medicine. In 1990, the Cardiac Surgery Branch of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) was replaced by T32 training grants, which became crucial sources of funding for cardiothoracic (CT) surgical research. We hypothesized that T32 grants would be valuable for CT surgery training and yield significant publications and subsequent funding. Methods: Data on all trainees (past and present) supported by CT T32 grants at two institutions were obtained (T32), along with information on trainees from two similarly sized programs without CT T32 funding (Non-T32). Data collected were publicly available and included publications, funding, degrees, fellowships, and academic rank. Non-surgery residents and residents who did not pursue CT surgery were excluded. Results: Out of 76 T32 trainees and 294 Non-T32 trainees, data on 62 current trainees or current CT surgeons (T32: 42 vs Control: 20) were included. Trainees who were supported by a CT T32 grant were more likely to pursue CT surgery after residency (T32: 40% [30/76] vs Non-T32: 7% [20/294], P <.0001), publish manuscripts during residency years (P <.0001), obtain subsequent NIH funding (T32: 33% [7/21] vs Non-T32: 5% [1/20], P =.02), and pursue advanced fellowships (T32: 41% [9/22] vs Non-T32: 10% [2/20], P =.02). Conclusions: T32 training grants supporting CT surgery research are vital to develop academic surgeons. These results support continued funding by the NHLBI to effectively develop and train the next generation of academic CT surgeons.
AB - Background: The Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award (T32) provides institutions with financial support to prepare trainees for careers in academic medicine. In 1990, the Cardiac Surgery Branch of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) was replaced by T32 training grants, which became crucial sources of funding for cardiothoracic (CT) surgical research. We hypothesized that T32 grants would be valuable for CT surgery training and yield significant publications and subsequent funding. Methods: Data on all trainees (past and present) supported by CT T32 grants at two institutions were obtained (T32), along with information on trainees from two similarly sized programs without CT T32 funding (Non-T32). Data collected were publicly available and included publications, funding, degrees, fellowships, and academic rank. Non-surgery residents and residents who did not pursue CT surgery were excluded. Results: Out of 76 T32 trainees and 294 Non-T32 trainees, data on 62 current trainees or current CT surgeons (T32: 42 vs Control: 20) were included. Trainees who were supported by a CT T32 grant were more likely to pursue CT surgery after residency (T32: 40% [30/76] vs Non-T32: 7% [20/294], P <.0001), publish manuscripts during residency years (P <.0001), obtain subsequent NIH funding (T32: 33% [7/21] vs Non-T32: 5% [1/20], P =.02), and pursue advanced fellowships (T32: 41% [9/22] vs Non-T32: 10% [2/20], P =.02). Conclusions: T32 training grants supporting CT surgery research are vital to develop academic surgeons. These results support continued funding by the NHLBI to effectively develop and train the next generation of academic CT surgeons.
KW - NIH funding
KW - T32
KW - cardiothoracic surgery training
KW - grants
KW - resident research
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.12.041
DO - 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.12.041
M3 - Article
C2 - 29361300
AN - SCOPUS:85040633369
VL - 155
SP - 2050
EP - 2056
JO - Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
JF - Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
SN - 0022-5223
IS - 5
ER -