Letters Worksite Choices of Recent Psychiatry Residency Graduates SIR: The 1989 American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (AADPRT) annual survey provides data on the frequency distribution of work settings chosen by recent psychiatry residency graduates. The survey was mailed in January 1989 to all directors of accredited general psychiatry residency education programs (n=215) (1). Responses (n=107) were collected through September 1989with a return rate of 49.76%. Questions about work sites chosen by graduates were framed with instructions for the directors to consider the last 3 years when responding. Responding directors reported that approximately 29% of psychiatry residency program graduates had entered fellowships. Respondents were asked to assign percentages to a list of 11 possibilities of where the remaining residents go immediately after graduation. Of the remaining residency graduates, 34.5% chose private individual (21.5%) or group (12.9%) practices. The second largest group 08.8%) assumed academic positions, and 13.8% began working in community mental health centers (CMHCs) . The number of graduates entering fellowships coincides with the 29% figure from the study of 1986 graduating residents by Weissman and Bashook (2). In their study, 33% anticipated starting a private practice and 16% anticipated starting an academic career (2). AADPRT survey responses about hospital-based positions chosen outside academic centers were distributed as follows: public hospitals 00.7%); private hospitals 00.2%), comprised of investor-owned (5.2%) and not-for-profit (5.0%) corporations; federal hospitals (9.2%); military hospitals (5.9%); and Veterans Administration hospitals (3.3%). Research centers attracted 2.6%ofthe reported graduates.
), :
The 1989 AADPRT survey also pnr vided data on the distribution of training sites categorized by the average percentage of training time spent in each site. Training time in acute general and private hospitals (32.7%) was roughly equivalent to the percentage of graduates entering private practice. Graduates' exposure to university hospitals (28.1 %)exceeded the percentage of those going into academic and research settings (21.4%). The percentage (24.5%) entering the state-funded sector (CMHCs and state hospitals) represents an increase over trainee exposure to those settings 07.7%), whereas the numbers of those employed by private hospitals 00.2%) and by federal hospitals (9.2%) represent decreases compared with training time spent in those facilities 05% and 18%, respectively). The reported locations primarily served by recent graduates were metropolitan areas (55.85%), small cities (23.11 %), and rural areas 01.23%). A high percentage (67.98%) remained in the vicinity of their residency education. Of those moving to another region, the largest percentage relocated to the Northeast. Given the impacts on psychiatric education and practice produced by social and economic forces, the burgeoning development of new knowledge, and the dynamics of contemporary mental health care delivery systems (3),it is reassuring to note that graduates reported general satisfaction with regard to their perceptions of preparedness for their professional roles and potential for success in the marketplace. Of the 58 responses to this question, only 2 directors indicated that they received no feedback from residents. The remainder reported positive responses. Paul Rodenhauser, M.D. Department of Psychiatry Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, Louisiana
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Re&ratc:es 1. Rabinowitz CB, Kay J, Taintor Z (eds): Directory of Psychiatry Residency Training Programs, 4th Edition. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, et al, 1988 2 Bashook PG, Weissman SH: Career plans of new psychiatrists. Presented at the annual meetingof The American Psychiahic Association, May 9-14,1987.
CME Syllabus & Proceedings Summary. Washington, DC, American Psychiahic Association, 1987, p
228 3. Yager J: The many quests of psychiatrists: how well can we fulfill them? Academic Psychiatry 1990; .
14:44-53
Plan toattend thefollowing meetings:
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF DIRECfORS OF PSYCmATRIC RESIDENCY TRAINING MIDWINTER MEETING 1992 Featuring theHarvey Shein Memorial Lecture by Dr. Glen Gabbard and thePresidential Forum: Breakfast with theDean with Dr. Jeffrey Houpt of Emory University January 16-19,1992 Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans, Louisiana Deadline for registration is December 15, 1991 For more information contact: Ludelle Meinsler Institute of Living, 400 Washington St. Hartford, cr 06106
(203) 241-8037,FAX (203) 241-8045
ASSOCIATION FOR ACADEMIC PSYCmATRY 1992 ANNUAL MEETING The NewGeneration ofPsychiatric Educators
March 4-7,1992 La Mansion Del Rio
San Antonio, Texas For more information contact: Mary O'Loughiin Department of Psychiatry, Wyman 2 Mount Auburn Hospital Cambridge, MA 02238
(617)499-5198
), :
The 1989 AADPRT survey also pnr vided data on the distribution of training sites categorized by the average percentage of training time spent in each site. Training time in acute general and private hospitals (32.7%) was roughly equivalent to the percentage of graduates entering private practice. Graduates' exposure to university hospitals (28.1 %)exceeded the percentage of those going into academic and research settings (21.4%). The percentage (24.5%) entering the state-funded sector (CMHCs and state hospitals) represents an increase over trainee exposure to those settings 07.7%), whereas the numbers of those employed by private hospitals 00.2%) and by federal hospitals (9.2%) represent decreases compared with training time spent in those facilities 05% and 18%, respectively). The reported locations primarily served by recent graduates were metropolitan areas (55.85%), small cities (23.11 %), and rural areas 01.23%). A high percentage (67.98%) remained in the vicinity of their residency education. Of those moving to another region, the largest percentage relocated to the Northeast. Given the impacts on psychiatric education and practice produced by social and economic forces, the burgeoning development of new knowledge, and the dynamics of contemporary mental health care delivery systems (3),it is reassuring to note that graduates reported general satisfaction with regard to their perceptions of preparedness for their professional roles and potential for success in the marketplace. Of the 58 responses to this question, only 2 directors indicated that they received no feedback from residents. The remainder reported positive responses. Paul Rodenhauser, M.D. Department of Psychiatry Tulane University School of Medicine New Orleans, Louisiana
\ ( 1I I \ II I ~ • '\ L \ 1111 1< I • \\1 '\ J I 1< :" ' }j
Re&ratc:es 1. Rabinowitz CB, Kay J, Taintor Z (eds): Directory of Psychiatry Residency Training Programs, 4th Edition. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, et al, 1988 2 Bashook PG, Weissman SH: Career plans of new psychiatrists. Presented at the annual meetingof The American Psychiahic Association, May 9-14,1987.
CME Syllabus & Proceedings Summary. Washington, DC, American Psychiahic Association, 1987, p
228 3. Yager J: The many quests of psychiatrists: how well can we fulfill them? Academic Psychiatry 1990; .
14:44-53
Plan toattend thefollowing meetings:
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF DIRECfORS OF PSYCmATRIC RESIDENCY TRAINING MIDWINTER MEETING 1992 Featuring theHarvey Shein Memorial Lecture by Dr. Glen Gabbard and thePresidential Forum: Breakfast with theDean with Dr. Jeffrey Houpt of Emory University January 16-19,1992 Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans, Louisiana Deadline for registration is December 15, 1991 For more information contact: Ludelle Meinsler Institute of Living, 400 Washington St. Hartford, cr 06106
(203) 241-8037,FAX (203) 241-8045
ASSOCIATION FOR ACADEMIC PSYCmATRY 1992 ANNUAL MEETING The NewGeneration ofPsychiatric Educators
March 4-7,1992 La Mansion Del Rio
San Antonio, Texas For more information contact: Mary O'Loughiin Department of Psychiatry, Wyman 2 Mount Auburn Hospital Cambridge, MA 02238
(617)499-5198
