Publication Productivity Using H-Index to Evaluate Academic Success Among Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeons

Abstract

BACKGROUND The h-index is a measure of research achievement using not only the number of publications of an individual, but also the impact of the publications. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to evaluate the h-indices of Mohs surgeons within a variety of practice settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS A list of all American College of Mohs Society (ACMS) members with corresponding fellowships years were collected using the ACMS membership directory. Publicly available demographic information was obtained including fellowship year, practice setting, PhD status, practice location (region), total number of publications, and h-index. Descriptive statistics were calculated to compare h-indices among the demographic data. RESULTS A total of 1150 ACMS members were included. The Practice setting distribution was as follows: 10.6% academic, 85.7% private practice, and 3.7% combined. H-index differed significantly based on practice setting (p , .001), with higher h-indices in academic and combined settings compared with the private practice setting. Subanalysis among academic Mohs surgeons revealed higher mean h-indices among professors (23.9) . associate professors (10.6) . assistant professors (8.6) . clinical instructors (5) (p , .001). CONCLUSION H-indices were highest among Mohs surgeons in the academic setting with increasing values correlating with higher academic rank and time since fellowship completion.

Characterizing Gender and Leadership Trends Among Mohs Micrographic Surgery Fellowship Directors

“…30,31 The authors found that H-index was similar between female and male MMS FDs after adjusting for years in practice and academic rank, indicating that women and men are equally qualified for their positions. Marion and colleagues 32 found that the H-indices of academic Mohs surgeons were higher than that of private practice Mohs surgeons. In contrast, the authors found that among FDs, there was no significant difference in H-index across program types, suggesting that research plays a large role in the FD career regardless of practice type.…”

“…Most of the current MMS FDs work at academic institutions, in contrast to the overall MMS workforce, which predominates the private practice sphere. 32 Draws of the academic setting may include intellectual stimulation, teaching prospects, and collaboration opportunities, whereas deterrents may include decreased autonomy. 33 The predominance of MMS FDs in the academic setting may be expected because FDs are not only greatly involved in teaching and research but also have the unique position as leaders to have autonomy over their own programs.…”

Commentary on “Publication Productivity Using H-Index to Evaluate Academic Success Among Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeons”

“…Key findings include a higher h-index in academic (associated with a dermatology residency program or Mohs fellowship) and combined (academic appointment plus non-academic appointment) settings compared with nonacademic settings. 1 Therefore, protected academic time in academic and private practices may help to promote academic productivity and contribute toward advancing the field. Of the 1150 ACMS members reviewed, 122 (10.6%) were employed in an academic setting.…”

“…Marion and colleagues 1 ' article, “Publication Productivity Using H-index to Evaluate Academic Success Among Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeons,” analyzes publication productivity among Mohs surgeons. The authors focused on the h-index as a metric for publication productivity among 1150 ACMS members.…”