An assessment of reward and faculty development opportunities provided to pediatric community faculty

Abstract

Jerold M. Stirling

Objective: Many medical schools in the US are experiencing difficulty maintaining sufficient ambulatory pediatric training sites for their students. The goals of this study were to assess the incentives, reward, and faculty development (FD) opportunities provided for pediatricians serving as community faculty (CF) teaching in pediatric clerkships in the US. Materials and Methods: A 10-question prospective survey of the membership of the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics incorporated into the organization’s 2014 annual survey. Results: Representatives from 92% (111/121) of U.S. medical schools responded to the study. 79% of medical schools utilize CF to teach pediatrics. 82% of respondents were having difficulty recruiting and retaining pediatricians to teach students. 39% of medical schools provided monetary stipends for teaching. 68% of schools provided FD for their CF. Conclusion: The majority of schools rely on non-monetary incentives to recruit and retain their CF. As compared to previous studies, more medical schools are offering financial stipends. Most schools, but not all, offer some form of FD training for their CF. There is a wide variation in the scope of FD training provided to community physicians that teach medical students.