A recent study that looked at the academic success of ophthalmology fellows and their research engagement found significant differences in research output, but no differences in research impact by subspecialty. Uveitis and oculoplastic fellows had higher research activity, while medical retina and other fellows had the lowest. The data helps better to understand the landscape of ophthalmology fellowship applications, the researchers noted.
The researchers evaluated the research activity of 2023 ophthalmology fellows by subspecialty to determine trends useful for prospective applicants and to assess the research activity. The Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery websites were used to compile the fellowship programs. Program subspecialties were categorized: cornea and external disease [CED]; cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery [CEDRS]; glaucoma; medical retina [MR]; neuro-ophthalmology [NO]; oculoplastics; pediatric ophthalmology [PO]; surgical retina [SR]; uveitis; and other (oncology, pathology, combined oncology/pathology fellowships). Fellows were identified using information online and programs and fellows that did not have information available were excluded. Total publications, Hirsch index (h-index), and weighted-relative citation ration (w-RCR) were used as measures of research output, while total citations and mean-RCR (m-RCR) served as proxies for research impact. Duration of publishing was calculated using the years of the oldest and most recent publications. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis H tests with an alpha value of .05.
Three hundred and seventy-three fellows from 229 programs met study inclusion criteria, with 54.4% being men, and the most common degree type was MD (93.0%). Across all subspecialties, the median h-index was 3.0, m-RCR was .9 and w-RCR was 3.2. The median number of publications was 6 with 34 citations and 4 years of publishing. The researchers observed significant differences in h-index, total publications, and w-RCR by subspecialty.
Reference
Vought V, Vought R, Herzog A, Narain S, Donnenfeld ED. Analysis of research activity among ophthalmology fellows. Semin Ophthalmol. 2024 Mar 3:1-4. doi:10.1080/08820538.2024.2324459
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