ARE FELLOWS PREPARED FOR THEIR FIRST JOB? LESSONS FROM THE AIPPD CAREER SYMPOSIUM

Abstract

SESSION TITLE: Advances in Pulmonary and Critical Care Training SESSION TYPE: Original Investigations PRESENTED ON: 10/08/2018 01:30 pm - 02:30 pm PURPOSE: Interventional pulmonology (IP) is an increasingly popular field in the United States, requiring pulmonary and critical care specialists to complete one year of advanced fellowship for Board certification. IP fellows have to perform their first job search during a busy training schedule. It is not clear whether prior and ongoing training experiences adequately equip them with the requisite knowledge and insight for early career success. We conducted a mid-year career symposium to assess and improve the same. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous survey of mid-year IP fellows about their self-efficacy with important concepts and skills relevant to early career success. All respondents participated in a day-long career symposium. Participants re-took the survey immediately afterwards. Average pre- and and post-intervention scores on each question were compared using the t-test, keeping alpha at 0.05 (two-sided). RESULTS: All IP fellows across the United States were invited to the career mentoring symposium through email invitations sent to their program directors. All 25 participating fellows completed the pre-symposium survey (100% response rate) whereas 22 (88%) completed the post-symposium survey. Despite six years or more of postgraduate training including a half-year of advanced fellowship, these fellows reported low scores (below 3 on a 1-5 Likert scale) on all aspects relevant to securing and succeeding at their first job. Correspondingly, fellows highly rated the importance of learning early career development strategies during their ongoing IP fellowship (average score 4.3 on a 1-5 scale). After exposure to the day-long curriculum, self-efficacy scores on all questions increased significantly (all p-values <0.05). Fellows reported improved understanding of the IP hiring process, negotiating non-clinical time, and pathway to promotion for an interventional pulmonologist as well as improved knowledge of opportunities for early career funding. They also reported improved knowledge of the capital equipment purchase process and of how to formulate a business plan. Fellows reported a more developed strategy for securing and succeeding at their first job at the conclusion of the symposium (average score increased from 1.9 to 3.4, p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Advanced IP fellows at the time of their job search are inadequately prepared for early career success in IP. Participation in a day-long career symposium can significantly improve these skills. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A well-developed strategy for early career success would position future interventional pulmonologists for success in expanding the clinical and research horizon of this nascent field, ultimately benefiting patients from the myriad diseases that can benefit from diagnostic and therapeutic IP services. Such an intervention may help other pulmonary and/or critical care professionals too, particularly those with fewer years of training. DISCLOSURES: Consultant relationship with VERAN Medical Technology Please note: $20001 - $100000 Added 11/28/2017 by Jason Akulian, source=Web Response, value=Consulting fee Consultant relationship with Boston Scientific Please note: $1-$1000 Added 11/28/2017 by Jason Akulian, source=Web Response, value=Travel Consultant relationship with Medtronic Please note: $5001 - $20000 Added 11/28/2017 by Jason Akulian, source=Web Response, value=Consulting fee Advisory Committee Member relationship with Becton Dickinson Please note: $5001 - $20000 Added 11/28/2017 by Jason Akulian, source=Web Response, value=Honoraria Consultant relationship with Intuitive Surgical Please note: $1001 - $5000 Added 11/30/2017 by Jason Akulian, source=Web Response, value=Consulting fee No relevant relationships by Neeraj Desai, source=Web Response Consultant relationship with Veracyte Please note: $5001 - $20000 Added 03/09/2018 by Hans Lee, source=Web Response, value=Consulting fee Consultant relationship with Veran Medical Please note: $20001 - $100000 Added 03/09/2018 by Hans Lee, source=Web Response, value=Grant/Research Support No relevant relationships by Majid Shafiq, source=Web Response