Neurosurgical workforce trends in the United States

Update Item Information
Publication Type Journal Article
School or College School of Medicine
Department Neurosurgery
Creator Couldwell, William T.
Other Author Gottfried, Oren N.; Rovit, Richard L.; Popp, A. John; Kraus, Kristin L.; Simon, Arlene Stolper
Title Neurosurgical workforce trends in the United States
Date 2005-02
Description Object. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the US neurosurgery workforce by reviewing journal recruitment advertisements published during the past 10 years. Methods. The number of available academic and private neurosurgical staff positions was determined based on recruitment advertisements in the Journal of Neurosurgery and Neurosurgery for the 10-year period from 1994 to 2003. Advertisements were evaluated for practice venue, subspecialization, and location. The numbers of active neurosurgeons and graduating residents also were reviewed. The number of advertised neurosurgical positions increased from 141.6 ± 38.2 per year from 1994 through 1998 to 282.4 ± 13.6 per year from 1999 through 2003 (mean 6 standard deviation, p < 0.05). The mean number of academic positions increased from 50.6 ± 11.1 to 95 ± 17.5 (p < 0.05), and the mean number of private positions rose from 91 ± 30.4 to 187.4 ± 6.8 (p < 0.05). Subspecialty positions represented a mean of only 15.6 ± 5% per year during the first time period and 18.8 ± 3% per year in the second period (p = 0.22), and therefore the majority of positions advertised continued to be those for generalists. The number of practicing neurosurgeons declined after 1998, and by 2002 it was less than it had been in 1991. The numbers of incoming and matriculating residents during the study period were static. Conclusions. The number of recruitment advertisements for neurosurgeons during the last 5 years has increased significantly, concomitant with a severe decline in the number of active neurosurgeons and a static supply of residents.
Type Text
Publisher American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
Journal Title Journal of Neurosurgery
Volume 102
Issue 2
First Page 202
Last Page 208
DOI 10.3171/jns.2005.102.2.0202
citatation_issn 0022-3085
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Gottfried, O. N., Rovit, R. L., Popp, A. J., Kraus, K. L., Simon, A. S., & Couldwell, W. T. (2005). Neurosurgical workforce trends in the United States. Journal of Neurosurgery, 102(2), 202-8.
Rights Management (c) American Association of Neurological Surgeons
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 258,743 bytes
Identifier ir-main,12620
ARK ark:/87278/s6kh15gp
Setname ir_uspace
ID 703265
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6kh15gp