Predictors of future academic productivity in pediatric otolaryngology fellowship applicants

Letter: Neurological Surgery Residency Programs in the United States: A National Cross-Sectional Survey

“…The number of publications has been used to rank neurosurgery applicants, leading to some institutions having the most publication-focused residents, building on prior inequalities in access to mentorship and research support and leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy of continuing the arms race. 13,14 In fact, some studies suggest that academic output is a direct correlation of a trainee's surrounding, positively related to faculty and institutional h-indices. 15 However, do publication numbers equate to contribution to the field, innovation, or improved outcomes?…”

“…This could significantly affect the results and lead to erroneous conclusions for leadership managing resident time and requirements.Measuring academic success or potential of trainees based solely on publications lends itself to gamesmanship and luck and lacks important nuance that may be a better indication of a residents' drive, motivation, learned skills, teaching and leadership experience, and future career paths. The number of publications has been used to rank neurosurgery applicants, leading to some institutions having the most publication-focused residents, building on prior inequalities in access to mentorship and research support and leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy of continuing the arms race 13,14. In fact, some studies suggest that academic output is a direct correlation of a trainee's surrounding, positively related to faculty and institutional h-indices 15.…”