What do you guys think the solution will be to the progressively decreasing popularity of CT surgery among surgical residents and med students? I've read that it is estimated that by around 2010, almost half of the current CT surgeons in the U.S. will have retired. This, compounded by the fact that less and less people are deciding to go into CT surgery (including IMG applicants), will ultimately result in a shortage of qualified CT surgeons. Right now the proposed integrated General/CT surgery residency programs would include 3 years of general surgery plus 3 years of CT surgery, instead of the currently required 5 years of general surgery plus 2-3 years of CT training. Do you guys think shaving about 2 years off the training time is enough to significantly increase interest in CT surgery, despite the fact that compensation for CT operations seems to continue to decrease?
Or will the only way to get interest back into CT surgery will be to increase compensation to what it was before (or close to it)? The way I see it, potential CT surgeons are unwilling to go through arguably the most demanding specialty training, and in the end be working many hours but making about one-half the income CT surgeons before them were making.