The changing face of allergy/immunology fellowship programs

Abstract

Fellowship training in allergy/immunology (A/I) has evolved through the decades. Up until a few years ago, the application process was much simpler, with just a submission of a completed application form and letter of interest and that all-important interview. Since then, the requirements and documentation necessary to start and successfully complete an A/I fellowship have stockpiled. Are these changes really molding fellows to be better clinicians, researchers, and clinician-educators, or is this just a more laborious way of documenting their training because the medical environment has been increasingly susceptible to litigious investigation, and because of demands made by the public, the Institute of Medicine, and the federal government? The changes have been made across the board for the different specialties and subspecialties in medicine, and it has been particularly challenging to keep up with accreditation. In the last 5 to 10 years, some of the changes have included the application process, the level of supervision and necessary documentation needed for evaluation of the fellows, and advances in technology and the process of adult learning.