• Ergest Isak, Yash D Hegde, Meredith Barrett, Laura M Mazer, Justin B Dimick, and Gurjit Sandhu.
• Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI.
• Ann. Surg. 2023 Nov 1; 278 (5): e1148e1153e1148-e1153.

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the definition of career success in academic surgery.BackgroundCareer success in academic surgery is frequently defined as the achievement of a specific title, from full professor to department chair. This type of definition is convenient and established but potentially incomplete. The business literature has a more nuanced view of the relationship between titles and success, but this relationship has not been studied in medicine.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted from May to November 2020. Data were analyzed in an iterative fashion using grounded theory methodology to develop a conceptual model.ResultsWe conducted 26 semi-structured interviews with practicing surgeons differing in years of experience; 12 (46%) participants were female, mean age of 48. Participants included 5 chairs of surgery, 6 division chiefs, and 7 past or current presidents of national societies. Four themes emerged on the importance of titles: Some study participants reported that (1) titles are a barometer of success; others argued that (2) titles are not a sufficient metric to define success; (3) titles are a means to an end; and (4) there is a desire to achieve the title of a respected mentor.ConclusionsAs the definition of career success in academic surgery changes to encompass a broader range of interests and ambitions, the traditional markers of success must come into review. Academic surgeons see the value of titles as a marker of success and as a means to achieving other goals, but overwhelmingly our interviewees felt that titles were a double-edged sword and that a more inclusive definition of academic success was needed.Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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