Does the H Index Correlate With Academic Rank Among Full-Time Academic Craniofacial Surgeons?

[OBJECTIVE] To assess the relationship between the H index and the academic rank among full-time academic craniofacial surgeons.

[DESIGN] This was a cross-sectional study of full-time academic craniofacial surgeons.

[SETTING] Data were compiled and analyzed at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital.

[RESULTS] The study sample included 127 full-time academic craniofacial surgeons. Overall, 89% were men, the mean number of years since completion of training was 16.2 ± 11.2 years. Most surgeons had a background in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Approximately 75% had completed formal fellowship training. The mean H index for the sample was 12.4 ± 9.9. The H index was strongly correlated with academic rank (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). In a multiple linear regression model, adjusting for multiple confounders/effect modifiers, including number of years since training and total number of publications, the H index was significantly associated with academic rank (coefficient = 0.33, p = 0.04).

[CONCLUSIONS] Among full-time academic craniofacial surgeons, the H index is strongly correlated with the academic rank.