What makes us tick: Implications of personality differences among otolaryngology residents and faculty

Abstract

Objective The rapid personal and professional growth experienced during medical training and practice is impacted by personality. The surgeon's personality is renowned in both medical lore and literature. However, it is now known that the personality characteristics of today's millennial trainees differ from older faculty. This study investigates the variability of different personality attributes among otolaryngology residents and faculty, as well as the practical implications of these findings. Methods The opportunity to complete a series of web‐based, commercially available, self‐administered five factor‐based personality assessments was given to otolaryngology residents and faculty at nine academic training programs. The psychometrically validated assessments evaluate innate personality 1) strengths, 2) challenges, and 3) motivators/values. Differences between groups in the assessed metrics were evaluated using two‐tailed t tests. Results Seventy‐eight otolaryngology faculty and 104 residents completed all three assessments. Of the assessed metrics, there were several significant differences between residents and faculty (all P < 0.05). Residents scored higher than faculty in the domains of interpersonal sensitivity, sociability, and inquisitiveness. With respect to potential challenges, faculty displayed higher levels of skepticism and reservation. In contrast, residents scored higher in the categories of mischievous and dutiful. As for motivators/values, although both groups were highly motivated by altruism, faculty valued tradition more than residents, whereas residents valued hedonism and affiliation more than faculty. Conclusion There are notable differences between residents and faculty in multiple domains, with implications for communication, education, and professional development. Level of Evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 129:2286–2290, 2019

Perceptions of Otolaryngology Residency Among Students Underrepresented in Medicine

“…This is consistent with similar studies less focused on the URiM, within and outside the OHNS specialty 25,26 . Villwock et al found the current OHNS resident personality as one valuing “fun, light hearted, open‐minded, team‐oriented environments, with less rigidity and hierarchy compared to faculty.” 27 However, there is no publicly available personality fit indicator of each program for review by prospective OHNS applications outside of the sites like Otomatch, virtual meet and greets, and interviews 28–30 . It is well documented that URiM students are more likely to feel alienated during medical training, 31 so those serving in recruiting roles recognize the role of implicit personal and institutional biases when deciding if a student aligns with the programs core values and goals 32 …”