The General Surgery Job Market: Analysis of Current Demand for General Surgeons and Their Specialized Skills

Abstract

BACKGROUND The majority of general surgery residents pursue fellowships. However the relative demand for general surgical skills versus more specialization is not understood. Our objective was to describe the current job market for general surgeons and compare the skills required by the market to those of graduating trainees. STUDY DESIGN Positions for board eligible/certified general surgeons in Oregon and Wisconsin from 2011 to 2012 were identified by review of job postings and telephone calls to hospitals, private practice groups, and physician recruiters. Data was gathered on each job to determine if fellowship training or specialized skills were required, preferred, or not requested. Information on resident pursuit of fellowship training was obtained from all residency programs within the represented states. RESULTS Of 71 general surgery positions available, 34% of positions required fellowship training. Rural positions made up 46% of available jobs. Thirty five percent of positions were in non-academic metropolitan settings and 17% were in academic metropolitan settings. Fellowship training was required or preferred for 18%, 28%, and 92% of rural, non-academic, and academic metropolitan positions respectively. From 2008 to 2012, 67% of general surgery residents pursued fellowship training. CONCLUSIONS Most general surgery residents pursue fellowship despite the fact that the majority of available jobs do not require fellowship training. The motivation for fellowship training is unclear but residency programs should tailor training to the skills needed by the market with the goal of improving access to general surgical services.

Factors and Influences That Determine the Choices of Surgery Residency Applicants

“…A recent study in Wisconsin and Oregon estimated that only 34% of available jobs required fellowship training. 32 By this calculus, approximately 40% of graduating residents were unnecessarily pursuing further training after residency. These authors also found that 43% of job postings were for rural jobs, whereas 35% were for nonacademic metropolitan, and 17% for metropolitan academic jobs.…”

Estimating the need for hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgeons in the USA

“…However, positions at high‐volume centres are limited and these fellows are faced with the reality of the job market. A recent study conducted in 2013 found that only 30% of general surgery job postings required fellowship training . This shows that the majority of need in the USA is for broad‐based general surgery.…”

“…A recent study conducted in 2013 found that only 30% of general surgery job postings required fellowship training. 6 This shows that the majority of need in the USA is for broad-based general surgery. As over 80% of graduating residents pursue fellowship training after general surgery residency, 2 fellows should be aware that in reality the majority of their practice may not be limited to the area of their subspecialty training.…”

“…5 This need is not specific to HPB surgery: a recent study by Decker et al showed that only 34% of general surgery positions require fellowship training. 6 Another study by Scarborough et al, published in 2008, projected that current training in HPB surgery will lead to a surplus of trainees in the job market. 5 The authors predicted that the current training paradigm will outnumber the estimated number of HPB procedures performed by 2020.…”

Surgical Subspecialization: Escape Route for Surgeons or Added Benefit for Patients?

“…[18][19][20][21][22][23] Even more compelling, recent research suggests that breast cancer patients and colon cancer patients are more likely to receive standard-of-care surgical treatment from trained subspecialists. [24][25][26] A shortage of 41 000 general surgeons is projected by 2025, 5 but in the face of data like these, perhaps we should worry more about improving the population's access to surgical subspecialists.…”