Global Landscape of Endocrine Surgery Training Programmes and the Impact of a Structured Residency Programme in India in Development of This Subspecialty

Abstract

This study examines the progressive development of endocrine surgery training programmes around the globe and its impact on development of this subspecialty. A survey of all currently existing endocrine surgery fellowships, English literature on endocrine surgery training programmes, personal communications and official websites of endocrine surgery professional bodies was done and data was analyzed. Globally, 75 fellowship positions could be identified which is a significant growth from 2000 when only 23 positions were available. In the past 6 years, the number of positions has increased by 100% worldwide and 350% in India and number of endocrine surgeons by 47%. India has shown very rapid growth in the development of this specialty, both in quantity and quality. Since the inception of the first academic endocrine surgery department at SGPGIMS Lucknow in 1987 to current eight academic departments in the country, 440 original articles were identified to have been published on thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal from India between 1975 and 2016, 57% being published in the last decade. Endocrine surgeons contributed most number (52%) of endocrine surgery publications as compared to surgical oncologists, ENT surgeons and general surgeons. When we exclude thyroid from the list, then 86% publications are authored by endocrine surgeons. Significant variation is found in the case of distribution of fellowships and fellows worldwide with a relative paucity in developing countries. Over three-quarters of countries do not have access to endocrine surgery training programme. The findings will influence promotion of new professional bodies, training programmes and workforce distribution.