Pediatric Fellowship Training

Abstract

In 1996, the Federation of Pediatric Organizations revised its 1990 statement on pediatric fellowship training. The following statement represents the current (2004) position of the federation regarding the purpose and objectives of fellowship training.The goal of subspecialty fellowship training is to advance the health of children by preparing graduates who are competent in clinical care, education, and research. This goal is best achieved by fellowship training that fosters the development of future academic pediatricians, recognizing the diverse roles they now play. This goal requires that graduates of training programs have a keen curiosity about issues in their subspecialty field, a healthy skepticism of their own experience (and the published experience of others), and a working understanding of the analytic tools relevant to exercising critical judgment. Training is best provided in an environment in which there are faculty role models committed to scholarly activities.Subspecialists may serve as expert clinicians providing direct and consultative care to patients based on their experience and critical evaluation of scientific evidence and research. They may serve as educators helping to guide and facilitate life-long learning of medical students, residents, fellows, and others who provide care for children. They also may be investigators adding to the body of knowledge in their subspecialty. The eventual careers of subspecialists may involve 1 or more of these roles to varying degrees. Therefore, training programs should provide all trainees with experiences that will allow them to develop competence for each of these roles, and applicants must be selected on the basis of their potential to achieve appropriate skills in each of these domains. The following are guidelines for fellowship programs and trainees.