Survey of US academic hospitalist leaders about mentorship and academic activities in hospitalist groups

Background: Few data describe the structure, activities, and goals of academic hospital medicine groups.

Methods: We carried out a cross sectional email survey of academic hospitalist leaders. Our survey asked about group resources, services, recruitment and growth, as well as mentoring of faculty, future priorities, and general impressions of group stability.

Results: A total of 57 of 142 (40%) potential hospitalist leaders responded to our email survey. Hospitalist groups were generally young (<5 years old). Hospitalist group leaders worried about adequate mentorship and burnout while placing a high priority on avoiding physician turnover. However, most groups also placed a high priority on expanding nonclinical activities (teaching, research, etc.). Leaders felt financially and philosophically unsupported, a sentiment which seemed to stem from being viewed primarily as a clinical rather than an academic service.

Conclusion: Academic hospital medicine groups have an acute need for mentoring and career development programs. These programs should target both individual hospitalists and their leaders while also helping to enhance scholarly work.