Retention of Full-Time Clinical M.D. Faculty at U.S. Medical Schools

Abstract

Physician and faculty retention have garnered increased attention in recent years, in part because academic medical centers are grappling with the lost human and financial capital associated with turnover. Medical schools (and their departments) face significant financial costs when they lose faculty members. For example, one school demonstrated the average costs of replacing a single generalist and specialist totaled $115,554 and $286,503, respectively. In addition, with projected workforce shortages of over 90,000 physicians looming,2 physician faculty turnover will likely have workforce implications, especially within certain specialties. In response to these concerns, this Analysis in Brief (AIB) examines retention rates of clinical M.D. faculty (i.e., faculty members who typically engage in patient care) by department, and analyzes correlates of faculty intentions to leave their institutions.