Background: To encourage progression of surgeon scientists amongst increasingly limited funding, academic interest, training institutions are supporting mid-training academic development time (ADT). We propose that supporting ADT with a full funding mechanism will improve ADT participation at minimal institutional cost.
Materials and methods: From 2017 to 2022, our surgery department proposed a full funding mechanism for a post-graduate year three (PGY-3) resident to encourage ADT participation. Residents were required to submit at least two external grants. Annual funding sources and total stipend supplementation was calculated by prevalence of ADT residents.
Results: From 2017 to 2022, 30 residents opted to participate in 1-4 years of ADT with increasing prevalence. 5 funding sources were utilized with ∼$530,000 in total annual funding. Departmental contribution was minimal compared to external (9% vs. 91% ($48,102 vs. $485,573, p < 0.001)).
Conclusions: With commitment of full salary supplementation, residents choosing ADT increased at marginal institutional cost, suggesting a solution to combating the declining number of academic surgeons.
Keywords: Academic development time; Funding; Resident research.
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