1. Trends in Applications for Thoracic Fellowship in Comparison With Other Subspecialties 
Sheelagh M. Pousatis, BS, M. Blair Marshall, MD, FACS 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 97, Issue 2, Pages (February 2014)
DOI: /j.athoracsur
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2. Fig 1
General surgery main residency matches 1997 to Matched general surgery applicants per year.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

3. Fig 2
Applicants and positions for selected surgical subspecialties 1997 to (A) Thoracic surgery (TS) shows a large persistent decline in applicants. The applicants have been lower than positions since 2005 despite closing of TS fellowship programs and positions. (B) Pediatric surgery has always had more applicants than positions throughout the study period. (C) Transplant surgery has had more applicants than positions for the last 4 years. (D) Vascular surgery (VS) has had a consistent applicant pool, with applications declining some years and increasing other years. Vascular surgery has also been increasing the number of programs and positions offered. (E) (F) Integrated TS and VS programs have been very popular since their implementation.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

4. Fig 3
Median physician compensation for selected surgical subspecialties 1996 to Cardiovascular surgery had the highest salary 1996 to 2010, but its salary in 1996 declined sharply in 1997, and only more recently recovered. General thoracic, pediatric, transplant, and vascular surgery have slowly increased from 1996 to Pediatric surgery has experienced the greatest increase and while it had the lowest salary in 1996 it is now the second highest salary in 2010.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

5. Fig 4
Observed 2010 salaries versus predicted 2010 salaries. Cardiovascular surgery's 1996 salary of $545,431 has not kept up with inflation. Cardiovascular surgery's 2010 salary was $548,702, and inflation would have predicted a salary of $758,027. General thoracic and pediatric surgery salaries exceeded predictions based on inflation. Transplant and vascular surgery's salaries increased at a rate below inflation.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions