Abstract
Program directors of internal medicine play a unique and critical role in the training process of physicians. A survey by the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine shows the average program director is 49 years old, a board-certified (93%) U.S. medical school graduate (91%), who has a medical school faculty appointment as associate professor or professor (87%). Forty-three percent have been program directors less than 3 years and only 10% for 10 years or more. Most program directors are full-time and 68% are also chiefs of service in their respective hospitals. Most programs have medical school affiliation (88%). A central concern of most program directors is attracting and retaining good residents.