The Linton A. Whitaker Legacy: Cultivating Craniofacial Surgeon Leaders
Said C. Azoury, MD, Christopher Kalmar, MD, Carrie Zimmerman, BS, Joseph Serletti, MD, Scott Bartlett, MD, Jesse Taylor, MD.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Background: Linton A. Whitaker is a pioneer in the field of craniomaxillofacial (CMF) surgery, renowned for contributions in research, education, and surgical innovation throughout his lifelong commitment to the field. During his academic career, he served both as the director of the craniofacial fellowship training program and chief of plastic surgery at his institution. Herein the authors reflect on his legacy through his trainees, their productivity and leadership roles.
Methods: A list of Dr. Whitaker trainees were identified who completed either a) craniofacial fellowship training while he was director of the program or b) residency training while he was chief of plastic surgery at the University followed by cleft/craniofacial fellowship training elsewhere. Curricula Vitae were requested and reviewed. Immediate post-training and current practice geographic location were recorded as well as practice type. Academic leadership positions and titles were also reviewed. Bibliometric and research productivity variables analyzed included H-index (www.scopus.com), number of publications, citations, book chapters, patents, and grants/funding (www.report.nih.gov).
Results: Of 44 surgeons in the period examined (1980-2011), 32 completed CMF fellowship training while Dr. Whitaker was director, 11 completed plastic surgery training under his chairmanship and subsequent craniofacial training elsewhere, and 1 trainee did both. Mean time since completion of training was 22 years (range 7-38). The majority continued active cleft and/or craniofacial practice following training (82.9%), in an academic setting (80%), serving primarily both pediatric and adult patients (45%). Most settled in the northeast (31.8%) and south (31.8%), but across 23 states nationally. Overall, the mean number of publications was 76 ± 81 (2-339), book chapters 23 ± 29 (0-135), H-index 18 ± 12 (1-45), grants 14 ± 16, (0-66) and patents 1 ± 1 (0-4). Of those who pursued academia, 53% were promoted to full professor, 47% had a program director role, 72% directed a craniofacial program, 56% achieved the rank of chief/chair, 74% served on an editorial board of a CMF or plastic surgery journal, 58% had a leadership role in a surgical society, and 19% had NIH funding.
Conclusions: Equally important to Dr. Whitaker’s contributions to plastic and CMF surgery is the development and success of his trainees. The majority pursued academics, were prolific scholars, attained full professor status, and had leadership roles within their programs/institutions and surgical societies. These exceptional individuals will undoubtedly continue the legacy of training the next generation of CMF surgeon leaders.
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