Factors affecting the mobility of pediatric dentistry faculty.

PURPOSE A questionnaire was used to develop a profile of current pediatric dentistry faculty to determine whether current faculty would consider relocating to accept another position in academia, and to identify what factors are most important to current full-time faculty when considering another faculty position. RESULTS Responding males had a significantly higher mean age (49.3 years) than the females (39.3 years). A significantly greater proportion of women (87%) than men (66%) reported that they were prepared to move if offered an improved career opportunity. Both women and men ranked an improved opportunity for professional growth followed by salary increase as the highest rated factors in considering relocation. There was no statistical difference between women and men at the assistant professor level relative to the importance of academic promotion opportunity. However, women at the associate professor level ranked an opportunity for academic promotion statistically higher than did men.