Global health training during neonatal fellowship: fellow and program director perspectives.

Abstract

This study explored the availability and perception of Global Health (GH) training opportunities in US-based Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) fellowship programs. Electronic surveys, containing discrete choice and open-ended questions, were distributed to current and recent fellows and to Program Directors (PDs). Fifty-eight PDs and ninety-eight fellows completed the survey. Fellows reported declining GH participation from 48% in medical school to 21% in fellowship. Among the 42% of fellows reporting GH opportunities at their programs, 30% personally participated. Fewer than 30% of these programs offer structured classroom or online learning; 10% offer research opportunities. 72% of fellows stated that GH availability is moderately to extremely important, compared with 58% of PDs. PDs cited cost, scheduling, mentorship, and lack of suitable global partners as barriers to supporting fellows in GH. NPM fellows place high importance on GH opportunities during fellowship, but only a minority engage in GH work.