Characteristics and Attitudes of Aspiring Cardiothoracic Surgeons: A Survey Study.

Abstract Background Although recruiting highly qualified, diverse applicants into cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) remains a national priority, their characteristics remain unknown. This study aims to better describe the current and future applicants in CTS. Methods Aspiring CT surgeons – students interested in matriculating in a North American training program - were voluntarily enrolled in the study via Twitter and email outreach. A 33-question survey evaluated their backgrounds, research experiences, attitudes, and interests within CTS. Standard descriptive statistics were used. Results There were 111 participants, of which 40 (36.0%) were female and 27 (24.3%) identified as an underrepresented minority. Of the total, 63 (56.8%) belonged to an institution with a CTS training program. Ninety-one students (82.0%) envisioned having a mostly operative career. Seventy-five (67.6%) envisioned pursuing educational roles. The most popular surgical specialties were heart transplantation (50.5%) and aortic surgery (47.8%). Participants selected having a high-intensity operative environment (81.2%) and an innovative academic environment (58.8%) as the most attractive qualities. Perceived lack of work-life balance (46%) and toxic training/work environment (28%) were the greatest deterrents. Finances during the application process were perceived as a potential barrier by 41 students (36.9%). Approximately 75% (83/111) of students had faculty as mentors; 46.8% (56/111) felt CTS faculty are approachable but had limited time for mentorship. Conclusions This is the first survey study to characterize a nationally selected pool of aspiring CT surgeons using social media. Future studies involving larger and more diverse cohorts are warranted to find areas for improvement in recruitment, retention, and diversity.