Survey Of Program Directors Research Articles

Emergency medicine residency pathways for MD/PhD trainees: A national cross-sectional study of physician-scientist training programs.

Combined clinical and research training is common in residency programs outside emergency medicine (EM), and these pathways are particularly valuable for combined MD/PhD graduates planning to pursue a career as a physician-scientist. However, EM departments may not know what resources to provide these trainees during residency to create research-focused, productive, future faculty, and trainees may not know which programs support their goal of becoming a physician-scientist in EM. The objective of this study was to describe research training and resources available to MD/PhD graduates in EM residency training with a focus on dedicated research pathways. This study was a cross-sectional inventory conducted through an electronic survey of EM residency program directors. We sought to identify dedicated MD/PhD research training pathways, with a focus on both resources and training priorities. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize survey responses. We collected 192 survey responses (69.6% response rate). Among respondents, 41 programs (21.4%) offered a research pathway/track, 52 (27.4%) offered a research fellowship, 22 (11.5%) offered both a residency research pathway/track and a research fellowship, and two (1.0%) offered a dedicated EM physician-scientist training pathway. Most programs considered research a priority and were enthusiastic about interviewing applicants planning a research career, but recruitment of physician-scientist applicants was not generally prioritized. Some EM residency programs offer combined clinical and mentored research training for prospective physician-scientists, and nearly all residency programs considered research important. Future work will focus on improving the EM physician-scientist pipeline by optimizing pathways available to trainees during residency and fellowship.

A Pilot Survey on the Perceptions of Pediatric Subspecialty Fellows and Program Directors on Virtual Compared with In-Person Interview Experiences

Pediatric fellowship programs have conducted virtual interviews since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In this national survey of fellowship program directors (FPDs) and fellows interviewed in-person and virtually, FPDs and fellows formed accurate impressions, regardless of format, but our data did not clearly support one interview format over another.

Family Medicine Resident Education About Health Disparities Associated With Incarceration: A CERA Research Study.

We submitted research questions to the Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA) to assess the format of family medicine resident education about health disparities associated with incarceration and the perceived efficacy of efforts to prepare graduates for competent care of formerly incarcerated patients in practice. We think this is a universal problem, and current efforts are insufficient. We evaluated data as part of the fall 2022 CERA survey of program directors (PDs). We reviewed descriptive statistics, generated comparative analysis, and reported relational analysis. We analyzed internal structure with principal component analysis and inter-item reliability. A total of 286 out of 678 (42%) eligible PDs completed the survey. Most respondents felt that educating residents about health disparities associated with incarceration was important and that residents would welcome that education. However, PDs lacked existing curricula. PDs did not think that medical school graduates were well-prepared in this area, and ambivalence existed about whether residency graduates were well-prepared to treat formerly incarcerated patients upon graduation. Comparative analysis revealed differences in responses based on the type of program, the program and community size, and the PD demographics. PDs acknowledged the importance of training residents about health disparities associated with incarceration and about care for formerly incarcerated patients in practice. However, they identified a gap between what was currently offered and what is needed to impact perception of resident readiness upon graduation. This training was felt to be most important in university-based programs with 31+ residents in US communities of greater than 150,000 people. We found no difference based on geographic location.

Importance of residency applicant factors based on specialty and demographics: a national survey of program directors.

With the transition away from traditional numerical grades/scores, residency applicant factors such as service, research, leadership, and extra-curricular activities may become more critical in the application process. To assess the importance of residency application factors reported by program directors (PDs), stratified by director demographics and specialty. A questionnaire was electronically distributed to 4241 residency PDs in 23 specialties during spring 2022 and included questions on PD demographics and 22 residency applicant factors, including demographics, academic history, research involvement, and extracurricular activities. Responses were measured using a Likert scale for importance. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square and Fisher exact test analysis were performed. 767 questionnaires were completed (19% response rate). Across all specialties, the factor considered most important was the interview (99.5%). When stratified by specialty, surgical PDs were more likely to characterize class rank, letters of recommendation, research, presenting scholarly work, and involvement in collegiate sports as extremely important/very important (all p < 0.0001). In contrast, primary care PDs favored the proximity of the candidate's hometown (p = 0.0002) and community service (p = 0.03). Mean importance of applicant factors also differed by PD age, gender, and ethnicity. We have identified several residency application factors considered important by PDs, stratified by their specialty, demographics, and previous experiences. With the transition away from numerical grades/scores, medical students should be aware of the factors PDs consider important based on their chosen specialty. Our analysis may assist medical students in understanding the application and match process across various specialties.

Assessment of advanced paediatric dentistry education programmes in Egypt: a survey of programme directors.

Advanced paediatric dentistry education programmes (APDEPs) should follow specific standards to produce competent specialists. The current study assessed APDEPs in Egypt via an online questionnaire to programme directors. An online questionnaire was distributed to the directors of fully operational degree-granting APDEPs in Egypt in June 2023. The survey instrument was based on the Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programmes in Paediatric Dentistry developed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Directors of the sixteen fully operational APDEPs answered the questionnaire giving a 100% response rate. APDEPs, in Egypt, varied regarding the adequacy of teaching staff, facilities and resources, didactic instruction, clinical requirements, and research activities. The current survey provides information about the strengths and weaknesses of fully operational degree-granting APDEPs in Egypt. This information can help maintain and improve the quality of these programmes.

Factors associated with attaining a pharmacy residency interview: A scoping review

AbstractPostgraduate pharmacy residencies are essential in preparing graduates for pharmacy careers. Residencies are highly competitive and despite efforts to increase the number of residency programs in the United States, the demand still outweighs the supply. Attaining a residency interview is a critical step in securing a residency position. The objective of this scoping review is to describe the published literature on factors associated with attaining a pharmacy residency interview. The updated Arksey and O'Malley scoping review framework was followed for this scoping review. The review is reported according to The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses Extension for Protocols and Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR). The search strategy contained a combination of medical subject headings (MeSH) and keywords from a review of article title and abstracts. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were created a priori. English language studies describing pharmacy residency interview, selection, rubrics, and descriptive, quantitative, or qualitative data were included. Title and abstracts were independently reviewed, followed by independent full‐text reviews. Covidence©, an online systematic review platform, was used in the screening, review, and selection process. Thirteen studies assessing factors associated with a residency interview met inclusion criteria. The majority of these studies (n = 7) analyzed data from residency program director (RPD) surveys. Most of these studies found that RPDs highly value letters of recommendation when evaluating a candidate's application. Three studies analyzed retrospective data. Several studies focused on letters of recommendation. The studies described letters of recommendation, letters of intent, grade point average, and leadership experience as factors associated with attaining a residency interview. Most studies had limitations in generalizability, study design, and heterogeneous data.

Update on the Selection Criteria of Plastic Surgery Residents: A Survey of Program Directors and Associate Program Directors.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) is recognized as a highly competitive specialty. Since the first assessment of resident selection criteria in 2007, PRS residency programs have adopted holistic review processes and adapted to changes such as a decline in medical schools participating in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society as well as the recent transition to pass/fail grading for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) step 1 examination (Schultz et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open . 2020;8:e2892; Tadisina et al. Plast Reconstr Surg . 2017;139:330e-331e). This study was devised to evaluate current PRS residency criteria in light of these changes. An anonymous, 12-item, electronic survey was generated and distributed using Alchemer. An email was sent to 171 program directors (PDs) and associate program directors (APDs) of PRS residency programs. Survey questions were developed to collect data regarding respondent demographics and their desired criteria when assessing residency applicants. Complete responses were collected and analyzed with summary statistics and multivariate logistic regression using RStudio (version 1.3.109). In total, 44 (25.7% response rate) of the 171 PDs and APDs completed the survey. Of the 16 programs (36.4%) with a USMLE cutoff score, 7 (43.8%) reported a range of 230 to 239 and 6 (37.5%) reported a range of 240 to 249. Without a score for step 1, the majority (48.8%) of respondents believe that step 2 scores will replace step 1 scores in terms of assessment criteria, and the content of recommendation letters was selected as the criterion with the greatest increase in weight (66.7%). In addition, 27.3% of programs require a step 2 score at the time of interview. The top 3 academic criteria in order of decreasing importance were the content of recommendation letters, clinical grades, and letter writers, whereas the top 3 nonacademic criteria were subinternship performance, maturity, and interview performance. Plastic and reconstructive surgery remains a highly competitive specialty for residency applicants. Our findings suggest that Alpha Omega Alpha membership remains diminished in importance, whereas USMLE cutoff scores have increased. With recent changes in the step 1 grading system, PDs and APDs will rely more heavily on step 2 scores and the content of recommendation letters.

A needs assessment for simulation in African surgical education.

There is a critical need for comprehensive surgical training in African countries given the unmet surgical burden of disease in this region. Collaborative and progressive initiatives in global surgical education will have the greatest impact on trainees. Little is known about surgical education needs from the perspective of practicing surgeons and trainees in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). Even less is known about the potential role for simulation to augment training. A modified Delphi methodology with 2 rounds of responses was employed to survey program directors (PD) and associate program directors (APD) of Pan-African Association of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) general surgery residency programs across eight low-middle-income countries in Africa. 3 PD/APDs and 2 surgical residents participated in semi-structured interviews centered around the role of simulation in training. Descriptive analysis was performed to elicit key themes and illustrative examples. The survey of program directors revealed that teaching residents the psychomotor skills need to perform intracorporeal suturing was both high priority and desired in multiple training sites. Other high priority skills were laparoscopic camera driving and medial visceral rotation. The interviews revealed a specific desire to perform laparoscopic surgery and a need for a simulation curriculum to familiarize staff and trainees with laparoscopic techniques. Several barriers to laparoscopic surgery exist, such as lack of staff familiarity with the equipment, lack of public buy in, and lack of generalizable and adaptable educational modules. Trainees saw utility in the use of simulation to optimize time in the operating room and sought opportunities to improve their laparoscopic skills. Faculty and surgical trainees in LMICs have interest in learning advanced surgical techniques, such as laparoscopy. Developing a simulation curriculum tailored to the trainees' local context has the potential to fill this need.

Hematology and Oncology Fellow Education About Sexual and Reproductive Health: A Survey of Program Directors in the United States.

Clinical oncology guidelines recommend addressing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns in routine cancer care. However, limited training often hinders clinicians' ability to do so effectively. The objective of this study was to understand the state of current fellowship education on SRH (ie, sexual health, safe sex practices, and fertility) through conducting a national survey of US hematology/oncology fellowship program directors (PDs). A survey was sent to all PDs of adult hematology/oncology fellowship programs in the United States via online link. PDs who did not complete the survey were sent up to four follow-up emails and a paper mailing. Descriptive statistics and McNemar tests were conducted. One hundred-fourteen PDs responded (65%). Fewer programs offered formal instruction on sexual health (49%) and safe sex practices (37%) compared with fertility (75%). Informal training in SRH relied heavily on direct clinical experience (73%-78% of programs), with other methods (eg, case-based approaches, webinars, and journal clubs) being less common. Lack of experts to provide instruction was the most commonly cited barrier to offering training in SRH, endorsed by 74% for sexual health, 68% for safe sex practices, and 54% for fertility; difficulty finding space within the curriculum (50%; 54%; and 43%, respectively) and a lack of training requirements were also commonly endorsed (57%; 60%; and 35%, respectively). Barriers were endorsed more commonly for sexual health topics than fertility. The results highlight the scarcity of training in SRH, particularly in sexual health, within hematology/oncology fellowship programs. The heavy reliance on informal instruction methods may lead to inconsistent and inadequate education. Efforts to integrate comprehensive training in SRH into fellowship programs are crucial to ensuring that such concerns are included in routine cancer care.

Infectious Diseases Training in the 21st Century: A Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

The percentage of infectious diseases (ID) fellowship positions filled has declined in the last years despite a relatively stable number of applicants. The data are concerning since this could impact an already strained workforce. A recent survey of ID fellowship program directors provides insight into the perceptions of program directors about factors that might have affected the match rate in 2023 and could also be applicable to the recent 2024 match. Here, we discuss the results of this survey and discuss the complex factors that might influence the choice of ID as an specialty. Although concerning, recent fellowship match results provide new opportunities to reassess current models of ID training and design innovative strategies for ID fellowship and education.

European fellowship training opportunities for hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery: an international survey of fellows and program directors

BackgroundThere are no established training pathways for hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery in Europe. This study aims to overview the current status of fellowship training from both fellows' and institutions' perspectives. MethodsA web-based snapshot survey was distributed to all members of the European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (E-AHPBA) to reach for former fellows and program directors of European HPB surgery fellowships held between 2013 and 2023. ResultsA total of 37 fellows and 13 program directors replied describing 32 different programs in 13 European countries. The median (range) age at fellowship start was 34 (30–45 years). Fellowship duration was most commonly one (36 %) or two (40 %) years. Fellowships were funded in 70 % and fellows were required to learn a new language in 27 %. Most fellows performed between none and 10 pancreatic (68 %), major (67 %) and minor (60 %) liver resections as 1st surgeon, while the number of operations performed as 1st assistant were more heterogeneous. Program directors estimated a higher number of operations performed by fellows as first surgeons. The percentage of procedures performed minimally invasively did not exceed 10 %. ConclusionThere is substantial heterogeneity between HPB fellowship programs in Europe. A wider standardization of clinical curriculum, including minimally invasive surgery, is desirable.

Current Procedural Terminology Code Selection, Attitudes, and Practices of the Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Case Log: A Survey of Residents and Program Directors.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Resident Case Log is one of the primary tools used to track surgical experience. Owing to the self-reported nature of case logging, there is uncertainty in the consistency and accuracy of case logging. The aims of this study are two-fold: to assess current resident case log Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code selection and practices across orthopaedic surgery residencies and to understand current attitudes of both program directors (PD) and residents surrounding case logging. Residents and PDs from 18 residency programs received standardized, consensus-built surveys distributed through the Collaborative Orthopaedic Educational Research Group. Resident surveys additionally contained clinical orthopaedic subspecialties vignettes on sports, trauma, and spine. Each subspecialty section contained 4 clinical vignettes with stepwise increases in complexity/CPT coding procedures. One hundred sixteen residents (response rate: 28.4%) and 16 PDs (response rate: 88.9%) participated. Formal case log training was reported by 53.0% of residents and 56.3% of PDs. A total of 7.8% of residents rated themselves "excellent" at applying CPT codes for the case log, while 0.0% PDs rated their residents' ability as "excellent." In total, 40.9% of residents and 81.3% of PDs responded that it was "extremely important" or "very important" to code accurately (p = 0.006). Agreement between resident CPT code selection and number of cases and procedures logged for each clinical vignette was conducted using Fleiss' kappa. As the clinical vignettes increased in complexity, there was a decreasing trend in kappa values from the first (least complex) to the last (most complex) clinical vignette. The inconsistent case logging practices, dubious outlook on case log accuracy and resident case logging ability and attitude, and lack of formal training signals a need for formal, standardized case log training. Enhanced case logging instruction and formalized educational training for PDs and residents would be a meaningful step toward capturing true operative experience, which would have a substantial impact on orthopaedic surgery resident education and assessment.

Social Determinants of Health in Family Medicine Residency: A National Survey of Program Directors.

Social factors account for most health outcomes, underscoring the need to address social determinants of health (SDH) to eliminate health disparities. Our objectives are (1) to describe the scope of formal SDH curricula in family medicine residency, (2) to identify residency program characteristics associated with integrated core curriculum components to teach SDH, and (3) to identify barriers to addressing SDH in residency. We distributed a cross-sectional survey to all family medicine residency program directors (PDs) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education as identified by the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors. Of 624 eligible program directors, 279 completed the survey (45% response rate). Overall, 41.2% of respondents reported significant formal SDH training in their program. Though a majority (93.9%) agreed that screening for social needs should be a standard of care, most (58.9%) did not use standardized screening tools. The most common barriers to addressing SDH were lack of clinical resources (eg, social workers, legal advocates), lack of community resources (eg, food banks, substance use disorder treatment), and inadequate screening instruments or integration into the electronic medical record system. Availability of referral resources was associated with PDs' increased perception of resident SDH competency. Nearly all respondents agreed that screening for social needs should be a standard part of care; however, this vision is not yet realized. To better train the next generation of physicians to identify and meaningfully address social needs, additional research is needed. This research might include mixed-methods approaches that incorporate qualitative assessments to define best practices and patient-centered outcomes related to identifying and responding to SDH.

Pediatric Resident and Program Director Views on Climate Change and Health Curricula: A Multi-Institution Study.

The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasized in a 2007 policy statement the importance of educating trainees on the impacts of climate change on children's health, yet few studies have evaluated trainee knowledge and attitudes about climate change-related health effects in children. This multi-institution study assessed pediatric resident and program director (1) knowledge/attitudes on climate change and health, (2) perspectives on the importance of incorporating climate and health content into pediatric graduate medical education, and (3) preferred topics/activities to include in climate and health curricula. This mixed-methods study employed an anonymous cross-sectional survey of pediatric residents and residency program directors from Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) Longitudinal Educational Assessment Research Network (LEARN)-affiliated programs. Multivariable regression models and factor analyses were used to examine associations among resident demographics and resident knowledge, attitudes, and interest in a climate change curriculum. A conventional content analysis was conducted for the open-ended responses. Eighteen programs participated in the study with all program directors (100% response rate) and 663 residents (average response rate per program, 53%; overall response rate, 42%) completing respective surveys. Of the program directors, only 3 (17%) felt very or moderately knowledgeable about the association between climate change and health impacts. The majority of residents (n=423, 64%) agreed/strongly agreed that physicians should discuss global warming/climate change and its health effects with patients/families, while only 138 residents (21%) agreed/strongly agreed that they were comfortable talking with patients and families about these issues. Most residents (n=498, 76%) and program directors (n=15, 83%) agreed/strongly agreed that a climate change curriculum should be incorporated into their pediatrics training program. Pediatric residents and program directors support curricula that prepare future pediatricians to address the impact of climate change on children's health; however, few programs currently offer specific training, despite identified needs.

Factors influencing the selection criteria of Saudi board orthopedic surgery applicants: a national survey of program directors

BackgroundAnnually, medical students vie to secure a seat with an orthopedic residency program. This rigorous competition places orthopedic surgery as one of the most competitive specialties in the medical field. Although several international studies have been published regarding the factors that influence program directors when choosing their ideal applicant, the data for Saudi Arabia in that regard is absent.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we aimed to survey all orthopedic program directors regarding the factors that influence them when choosing their ideal orthopedic surgery applicant. A survey was sent to all program directors via email during the month of August 2022. A reminder was sent 2 weeks later to maximize the response rate. The survey was completed by 22 out of 36 orthopedic program directors, which gave us a response rate of 61.11%.ResultsIn this study, 22 orthopedic surgery program directors responded to our survey. When program directors were asked to rank the factors of residency selection criteria, the top ranked factors were good impression on interviews; prior experience in orthopedic surgery with, for example, electives; and performance on ethical questions during interviews, with means of 9.18, 8.95, and 8.82 out of 10, respectively. Furthermore, program directors preferred letters of recommendation from recommenders that they personally know, clinical experience such as electives taken at the program director’s institution, and the quality of publications as the most important aspects of research. Most program directors (90.9%) relied on their residents’ and fellows’ opinions when selecting candidates, and 77.3% did not think gender has an influence on selection of applicants.ConclusionBy providing comprehensive data regarding the factors that influence and attract program directors of orthopedic surgery when choosing residency candidates. With the data provided by this study, applicants for orthopedic surgery have the advantage of early planning to build a strong application that may help persuade program directors to choose them.

Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training in transgender care: a national survey of residents and program directors

Aim: Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB-GYN) routinely care for transgender patients though most OB-GYN practitioners do not have any transgender care-specific training. The pervasive lack of training and education leads to dire health consequences for transgender patients. Residents and program directors within U.S. OB-GYN residency programs have been surveyed separately. To our knowledge, this is the first study that compares responses from residents and program directors related to their training. Our study aims to assess OB-GYN residents’ and program directors’ levels of comfort, preparedness, and knowledge in caring for transgender patients. Methods: Electronic surveys were sent to 183 OB-GYN residency programs. Resident and program director surveys consisted of questions regarding experiences with transgender care, perceptions about current transgender care training, and levels of comfort, preparedness, and knowledge in caring for transgender patients. Data were collected via Qualtrics and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics. Results: Responses were collected from 37 program directors and 94 residents across five regions defined by the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG). Over 67% of program directors reported not having an established transgender care training curriculum in their program. Among those without an established curriculum, 89% of program directors reported plans to implement one within the next year. Average levels of comfort, preparedness, and knowledge in caring for transgender patients was low for both groups, with residents scoring lower on these variables. Most program directors (89%) were amenable to using standardized training materials as part of their transgender care curriculum, if available. Conclusion: While a majority of U.S. OBGYN residency programs do not have an established transgender care training curriculum, most would use standardized training materials to implement one. This is important given that the current knowledge of transgender care amongst both program directors and residents is low. This study contributes to the limited pool of data that aims to support the development of curricula within OB-GYN residency programs to improve care and reduce health inequities for transgender patients.

Resident Involvement in Curricular and Clinical Practice Change and Satisfaction With Training According to Length of Training in Family Medicine.

Most research in residency training has focused on quality improvement within a single program. We explored resident involvement in curricular and clinical practice change, the learning environment, and resident satisfaction in 3-year family medicine residencies compared to matched 4-year residencies. We used two surveys to capture data. One was for program directors, which assessed the level of resident involvement in curricular and practice transformation. The second was a resident survey, which asked residents to rate their involvement in curricular change and practice transformation, the learning environment, and satisfaction with training. Both were administered annually between 2013 and 2019. Response rates ranged from 84.6% to 100%. Findings revealed no overall difference in resident involvement in curricular change, but the program director survey findings indicated that a higher proportion of residents in 4-year programs were using a broader diversity of approaches to working on quality improvement (QI) projects compared to those in 3-year programs. We also found statistical differences in the number of QI projects completed per year, with 34.1% completing three or more in 4-year programs compared to 13.3% in 3-year programs (P&lt;.001). We found a positive correlation between resident involvement, learning environment, and satisfaction with training for both 3-year (range 0.489-0.666; P=.001) and 4-year residents (range 0.441-0.529; P=.001). Four-year residents were involved in a greater number of quality improvement projects and had a more diverse profile of involvement than those in 3-year residency programs. Involvement in practice and curricular change and the learning environment were associated with greater levels of resident satisfaction with training in both 3-year and 4-year programs.

Protected Time for Program Administration among Nephrology Program Leadership in the United States.

In 2022, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education reduced minimum program director protected time for program administration from 10 to 8 h/wk, with no core faculty requirement. We surveyed program leaders regarding the effect of these changes. This is an anonymous, online survey of all US adult nephrology program directors (March 2023), who forwarded core faculty/associate program director (APD) surveys. The questions included protected time in 2022-2023 and 2021-2022, whether it was sufficient, estimated time needed, and two validated single-item burnout measures (emotional exhaustion and depersonalization). The analysis was descriptive. Program directors: Their response was 62% (92/149), with geographic distribution/approved fellow positions similar to those nationally. Overall, protected time slightly increased from 2021 to 2022, largely in >6-fellow programs, but 42% (13/31) of these were still not meeting minimum requirements. Only 37% (30/81) agreed that they had sufficient protected time. Those with ≤6 fellows estimated needing 11±4 h/wk (15±4 h/wk with >6 fellows). Twenty-five percent (20/81) reported high levels of emotional exhaustion. Core faculty: 57 of 149 program directors (38%) forwarded the link to 454 faculty. Ninety-four percent of APDs (49/52) responded, reported 3±3 h/wk protected time (42% had none), and estimated needing 6±3 h/wk, regardless of program size. Sixty-seven of 402 core faculty (17%) responded, reported 2±3 h/wk (50% had none), and estimated needing 5±3 h/wk, regardless of program size. ≥85% of APDs and core faculty precepted clinical rotations, gave lectures, evaluated fellows, mentored scholarly work, and participated in recruitment. The majority assisted in fellow remediation. Thirty-four percent (15/44) of APDs and 21% (13/61) of core faculty reported high levels of emotional exhaustion. Program leaders estimated minimum necessary program administration times (on the basis of program size) that exceeded the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requirements. APDs/core faculty contributed substantially to nonclinical training. Thirty-four percent of APDs and 25% of program directors had a high likelihood of burnout.

National survey of infectious disease fellowship program directors: A call for subspecialized training in infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology.

The importance of infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology (IPC/HE) in healthcare facilities was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infectious disease (ID) clinicians often hold leadership positions in IPC/HE teams; however, there is no standard for training or certification of ID physicians specializing in IPC/HE. We evaluated the current state of IPC/HE training in ID fellowship programs. A national survey of ID fellowship program directors was conducted to assess current IPC/HE training components in programs and plans for expanded offerings. All ID fellowship program directors in the United States and Puerto Rico. Surveys were distributed using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) to program directors in March 2023, with 2 reminder emails; the survey closed after 4 weeks. Of 166 program directors, 54 (32.5%) responded to the survey. Among respondent programs, 49 (90.7%) of 54 programs reported didactic training in IPC/HE averaging 4.4 hours over the course of the fellowship. Also, 18 (33.3%) of 54 reported a dedicated IPC/HE training track. Furthermore, 23 programs (42.6%) reported barriers to expanding training. There was support (n = 47, 87.0%) for formal IPC/HE certification from a professional society within the standard fellowship. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need for ID medical doctors with IPC/HE expertise, formal training in ID fellowship remains limited. Most program directors support formalization of IPC/HE training by a professional organization. Creation of standardized advanced curriculums for ID fellowship training in IPC/HE could be considered by the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) to grow, retain, and enhance the IPC/HE physician workforce.

Fellowship training opportunities for hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery in Europe: international survey of fellows and program directors

Fellowship training opportunities for hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery in Europe: international survey of fellows and program directors