How to become a medical professor - a comparative analysis of academic requirements in Germany and the United States.

academic career academic system professorship research and teaching

Journal

Innovative surgical sciences
ISSN: 2364-7485
Titre abrégé: Innov Surg Sci
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 101708165

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Sep 2019
Historique:
received: 11 06 2019
accepted: 06 08 2019
entrez: 12 11 2019
pubmed: 12 11 2019
medline: 12 11 2019
Statut: epublish

Résumé

The acquisition of a medical professorship represents a significant step in a physician's academic career. The responsibility as well as the honor and the associated obligations are significant; however, the requirements to become a medical professor vary in Germany. We analyzed the variable requirements for prospective medical professors in Germany, with special focus on the tenure track concept and the U.S. system. Based on an online research, we queried German medical faculty regulations to obtain a medical professorship within Germany. We analyzed 35 German universities. On average, 11 publications are required after "venia legendi" to meet professorship (apl) prerequisites (median x̅ = 10, max = 24, min = 6, n = 16), whereas 6 publications with first or last authorship are required on average (x̅ = 6, max = 16, min = 4, n = 26). In most German universities, it takes an average of 4 years after gaining habilitation to apply for a professorship (x̅ = 5 years, max = 6 years, min = 2 years). Candidates for university chair positions, however, can shorten this period by an average of 38%. In the German academic system, the prerequisites to gain a professorship differ among universities. Due to different scientific cooperation and exchange programs, research and academic activities have reached an intense international exchange level. Yet there is no international or even national standardization, quality assurance, and comparability to gain a medical professorship.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
The acquisition of a medical professorship represents a significant step in a physician's academic career. The responsibility as well as the honor and the associated obligations are significant; however, the requirements to become a medical professor vary in Germany.
OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE
We analyzed the variable requirements for prospective medical professors in Germany, with special focus on the tenure track concept and the U.S. system.
METHODS METHODS
Based on an online research, we queried German medical faculty regulations to obtain a medical professorship within Germany.
RESULTS RESULTS
We analyzed 35 German universities. On average, 11 publications are required after "venia legendi" to meet professorship (apl) prerequisites (median x̅ = 10, max = 24, min = 6, n = 16), whereas 6 publications with first or last authorship are required on average (x̅ = 6, max = 16, min = 4, n = 26). In most German universities, it takes an average of 4 years after gaining habilitation to apply for a professorship (x̅ = 5 years, max = 6 years, min = 2 years). Candidates for university chair positions, however, can shorten this period by an average of 38%.
DISCUSSION CONCLUSIONS
In the German academic system, the prerequisites to gain a professorship differ among universities. Due to different scientific cooperation and exchange programs, research and academic activities have reached an intense international exchange level. Yet there is no international or even national standardization, quality assurance, and comparability to gain a medical professorship.

Identifiants

pubmed: 31709302
doi: 10.1515/iss-2019-0011
pii: iss-2019-0011
pmc: PMC6817728
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

108-115

Informations de copyright

©2019 Alawi S.A., et al., published by De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston.

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Auteurs

Seyed Arash Alawi (SA)

Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.

Rosalia Luketina (R)

Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Nicco Krezdorn (N)

Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Lukas Fabian Busch (LF)

Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Anne Limbourg (A)

Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Ludwik Branski (L)

Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.

Peter M Vogt (PM)

Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Andreas Jokuszies (A)

Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Classifications MeSH