Were today's professors good students? Case study of the Zagreb University School of Medicine.

AIM To determine whether the medical school grades of today's professors at the Zagreb University School of Medicine could serve as the predictors of their subsequent academic success. METHODS We performed a retrospective descriptive study of medical school grades of professors and/or assistant professors at the Zagreb University School of Medicine from 1990 to 2003. The professors were divided into four groups according to the course they taught: Basic Science, Clinical Non-Surgery, Clinical Surgery, and Public Health. In total, data for 297 professors were analyzed. RESULTS Today's professors were above-average students. The analysis of grades of professors teaching different disciplines revealed that Basic Science professors were the best students, followed by Non-Surgery and Surgery professors, whereas Public Health professors were the worst. Grades that professors earned in Public Health courses were the highest, followed by grades in Non-Surgical and Surgical courses. The grades in Basic Science courses were the lowest. CONCLUSION Professors at the Zagreb University School of Medicine were above-average students and their grades seem to be important predictors of future success in academic career. Among today's professors, Basic Science professors were the best students.