US Trainees Research Articles

Teaching Frailty to Medical Residents: A Needs Assessment Among Geriatrics Faculty.

Knowledge of frailty is essential for meeting the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies for US trainees. The UK General Medical Council requires that frailty be included in undergraduate and graduate medical education curricula. Trainees are expected to appropriately modify care plans and help make patient-centered decisions, while incorporating diagnostic uncertainty, such as frailty, in older adults. Little is known about current needs for frailty instruction in graduate medical education in the US and beyond. We sought to capture faculty perceptions on how frailty should be defined and identified, and what aspects and level of detail should be taught to residents. The authors developed a 4-item short response questionnaire, and faculty had the option to respond via electronic survey or via semi-structured interviews. Respondents included 24 fellowship-trained geriatricians based at 6 different academic medical centers in a single urban metropolitan area. An invitation to participate in either an electronic survey or semi-structured virtual interview was e-mailed to 30 geriatricians affiliated with an academic multi-campus Geriatric Medicine fellowship. Responses were transcribed and coded independently by two authors. Responses were received from 24 geriatricians via a combination of digital questionnaires (n=18) and semi-structured online interviews (n=6), for a response rate of 80%. Responses revealed significant diversity of opinion on how to define and identify frailty and how these concepts should be taught. As frailty is increasingly incorporated into clinical practice, consensus is needed on how to define and teach frailty to residents.

Pathways and Patients: building an innovative collaborative medical education curriculum between Valparaiso and Boston (P4-8.002)

<h3>Objective:</h3> To construct a neurometabolism curriculum for residents from the Universidad de Valparaiso and Boston Children’s Hospital, furthering a longstanding international partnership. <h3>Background:</h3> The current project arose from a symmetric collaboration between the Universidad de Valparaiso and Boston Children’s Hospital existing since 2006. Recognizing pediatric neurologists must identify and initiate treatment for neurometabolic diseases despite limited clinical exposure, we aimed to improve management of these rare conditions through an innovative curriculum. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> The Pathways and Patients Neurometabolic Curriculum was designed according to Kern’s Six Step Curriculum Design with learning objectives designed based on Bloom’s taxonomy. <h3>Results:</h3> Twelve sessions were completed (02/22–6/22), with post-curriculum anonymous survey completed by 15 US and 7 Chilean trainees (76% completion rate) and 10/12 participants (83%) with neurometabolic conditions. Trainees reported low pre-session self-efficacy (US trainees mean 2.2-points on 7-point scale, SD 1.1; Chilean trainees 3.5/7, SD 1.6). For each neurometabolic conditions, Chilean residents had seen average 1–2 patients, and US trainees 0 patients. Residents had increased post-session self-efficacy (increase 2 or greater/7, n=17/22, 77%). All Chilean trainees and 73% of US trainees reported patient interviews were very helpful in knowledge retention. All respondents reported improved understanding of alternant healthcare system. Qualitative data from residents and patient participants reported value in normalizing day-to-day of patients with rare disease and intercultural exchange, as well as area for growth in translation quality. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Symmetric, longitudinal global collaborations allow for burgeoning of creative initiatives to address training gaps. Trainees overall had low exposure and self-efficacy ratings for neurometabolic diseases, which improved with the curriculum. Patient interviews were helpful in retention of content (88%), understanding health systems, and lived reality of rare disease. In addition, the curriculum furthered secondary aims of improving intercultural exchange and awareness for resident physicians. <b>Disclosure:</b> The institution of Dr. BriscoeAbath has received research support from Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. BriscoeAbath has a non-compensated relationship as a Board of Trustees Member with Brother’s Brother Foundation that is relevant to AAN interests or activities. Dr. Huff has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gutierrez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Aguilera has nothing to disclose. Dr. Urion has nothing to disclose. Mr. Cabello has nothing to disclose.

GlobalSurgBox: A Portable Surgical Simulator for Surgical Trainees Worldwide

Identify barriers to surgical simulation in multiple countries across the income spectrum. Evaluate whether a novel, portable surgical simulator (GlobalSurgBox) would be valuable to surgical trainees and overcome these barriers. Trainees from high-, middle-, and low-income countries were instructed on how to perform surgical skills using the GlobalSurgBox. Participants were sent an anonymized survey after 1 week to evaluate practicality and helpfulness of the trainer. Academic medical centers in 3 countries: USA, Kenya, and Rwanda. 48 medical students, 48 surgery residents, 3 medical officers, and 3 cardiothoracic surgery fellows. 99.0% of respondents agreed surgical simulation was an important aspect of surgical education. Despite 60.8% having access to simulation resources, only 3 of 40 (7.5%) US trainees, 2 of 12 (16.7%) of Kenyan trainees, and 1 of 10 (10.0%) Rwandan trainees used these resources routinely. 38 (95.0%) US trainees, 9 (75.0%) Kenyan trainees, and 8 (80.0%) Rwandan trainees with access to simulation resources stated there were barriers to using them. The frequently cited barriers included lack of convenient access and lack of time. After using the GlobalSurgBox, 5 (7.8%) US participants, 0 (0%) Kenyan participants, and 5 (38.5%) Rwandan participants reported lack of convenient access as a continued barrier to simulation. 52 (81.3%) US trainees, 24 (96.0%) Kenyan trainees, and 12 (92.3%) Rwandan trainees stated the GlobalSurgBox was a good facsimile of the operating room. 59 (92.2%) US trainees, 24 (96.0%) Kenyan trainees, and 13 (100%) Rwandan trainees stated the GlobalSurgBox better prepared them for clinical settings. A majority of trainees across all 3 countries reported multiple barriers to simulation in their current surgical training. The GlobalSurgBox eliminates many of these barriers by providing a portable, affordable, and realistic way to practice skills needed in the operating room.

Graduate Medical Education Training and the Health of Indigenous Peoples.

Graduate Medical Education Training and the Health of Indigenous Peoples.

An Interval Look at the Transplant Surgery Pipeline: Insights from General Surgery Residents’ Operative Experience Using ACGME Operative Logs from 2000 to 2021

Given the declining number of US graduates pursuing transplant surgery as well as regulatory changes regarding transplant rotations for surgical residents, this study examined the transplant surgery operative volume of residents over the past 20 years. Retrospective analysis of the ACGME database of general surgery operative logs from academic year (AY) 1999-2000 to AY 2020-2021; data was categorized into time periods relative to regulatory changes: Period 1 (1999-2010) and Period 2 (2011-2021). All ACGME-accredited general surgery residency programs in the US. On average, the proportion of transplant cases to all total major cases was about 1% and did not change during the study period (p=0.61). Each graduating resident completed an average of 10.0 ± 11.0 cases during Period 1 and 10.8 ± 12.0 cases during Period 2, representing a statistically but unlikely clinically significant increase (p=0.008). Renal transplants comprised more than 50% of each resident's operative experience in transplant surgery. The proportion of resident involvement in all renal and liver transplantations nationally did not change during the study period, ranging from 34.5-42.9% for renal and 13.8-22.4% for liver. Resident volume in transplant surgery has largely remained consistent over the past 20 years, suggesting that changes in operative volume are unlikely driving declining interest in transplant surgery fellowship among US trainees.

The Atlantic divide: contrasting surgical robotics training in the USA, UK and Ireland

The uptake of robotic surgery is rapidly increasing worldwide across surgical specialties. However, there is currently a much higher use of robotic surgery in the United States of America (USA) compared to the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland. Reduced exposure to robotic surgery in training may lead to longer learning curves and worse patient outcomes. We aimed to identify whether any difference exists in exposure to robotic surgery during general surgical training between trainees in the USA, UK and Ireland. Over a 15-week period from September 2021, a survey was distributed through the professional networks of the research team. Participants were USA, UK or Irish trainees who were part of a formal general surgical training curriculum. 116 survey responses were received. US trainees (n = 34) had all had robotic simulator experience, compared to only 37.93% of UK (n = 58) and 75.00% of Irish (n = 24) trainees (p < 0.00001). 91.18% of US trainees had performed 15 or more cases as the console surgeon, compared to only 3.44% of UK and 16.67% of Irish trainees (p < 0.00001). Fifty UK trainees (86.21%) and 22 Irish trainees (91.67%) compared to 12 US trainees (35.29%) do not think they have had adequate robotics training (p < 0.00001). Surgical trainees in the USA have had significantly more exposure to training in robotic surgery than their UK and Irish counterparts.

Norm Diffusion through US Military Training in Tunisia

Proponents claim that US military training diffuses norms of democracy and civilian control into foreign militaries. I argue that foreign trainees are likely to absorb the United States’ entire pattern of civil-military relations, including the more political trends that have emerged in recent decades, such as military personnel identifying with and voting for political parties, and serving in senior positions in government upon retirement. Through interviews and two surveys of Tunisian military personnel, I show that US trainees are more supportive than French trainees of active-duty personnel voting and of retired officers serving as president and defense minister. The diffusion of these more political attitudes to foreign trainees may help explain why US military training does not uniformly correlate with apolitical behavior.

Comprehensive Reform and Greater Equity in Applying to Residency-Trainees' Mixed Responses to a Pass/Fail USMLE Step 1.

Pass/fail USMLE Step 1 score reporting may have varying implications for trainees of different demographic and training backgrounds. To characterize the perspectives of a diverse cohort of trainees on the impact of pass/fail Step 1 score reporting. In 2020, 197 US and international medical school deans and 822 designated institutional officials were invited to distribute anonymous electronic surveys among their trainees. Separate surveys for medical students and residents/fellows were developed based on the authors' prior work surveying program directors on this topic. Underrepresented in medicine (UiM) was defined in accordance with AAMC definitions. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed, and results were considered statistically significant with P < .05. A total of 11 633 trainees responded (4379 medical students and 7254 residents/fellows; 3.3% of an estimated 285 000 US trainees). More students favored the score reporting change than residents/fellows (43% vs 31%; P < .001; 95% CI 0-24). Trainees identifying as UiM were more likely to favor the change (50% vs 34%; P < .001; 95% CI 0-32) and to agree it would decrease socioeconomic disparities (44% vs 25%; P < .001; 95% CI 0-38) relative to non-UiM trainees. Nearly twice as many osteopathic and international medical graduate students felt they would be disadvantaged compared to MD students because of pass/fail score reporting (61% vs 31%; P < .001; 95% CI 0-60). Trainee perspectives regarding USMLE Step 1 score reporting are mixed. UiM trainees were more likely to favor the score reporting change, while osteopathic and international medical students were less in favor of the change.

Crossing Boundaries: Mentorship in Global Health.

* Abbreviation: GH — : global health On my first day in the NICU in Malawi, I helped care for an infant who suffered from severe lack of oxygen and trauma due to a difficult birthing process. Before this experience, I had felt ready to work at a Malawian hospital as a pediatric resident. I had taken a tropical medicine course, and my home institution mentor had run simulations and led discussions addressing the practicalities and ethics of practicing medicine within resource-limited settings. But that afternoon, when the infant became apneic, personally experiencing what had only been simulated felt much harder. The 1 available nurse and I performed compressions and manual breaths, but he never recovered spontaneous respirations. My host institution mentor arrived soon after we discontinued resuscitative efforts. With his guidance, I spoke to our patient’s family and witnessed the Malawian expression of grief in the form of wailing songs and prayers. Afterward, he and I discussed questions with which I was struggling, namely, at what point would I be causing more harm than good by continuing to resuscitate this child, knowing the limited long-term care resources available in Malawi? Both home and host institution mentors helped me navigate this clinical situation and process my patient’s death, ultimately enriching my global health (GH) experience and … Address correspondence to Maya I. Brasher, MD, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, UT Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Suite MSB 3.244, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: maya.i.brasher{at}uth.tmc.edu

Global Pathology Training in Residency and Fellowship: A Mutually Beneficial Intervention.

Most cancers occur in lower and middle income countries, where pathologists are scarce. Despite this, few pathology training programs offer global health electives, and trainees are not exposed to challenges associated with practicing in resource-restricted settings. To implement a global health elective model aimed at exposing trainees to global health while alleviating overburdened pathologists in resource-restricted settings. For 1 year, trainees at 2 US institutions reviewed cases shipped weekly from a pathology lab serving Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. Turnaround time, specimen type, and trainee and clinician satisfaction were assessed. Trainees reviewed an average of 16 cases per week. Average turnaround time was 6 days. There was no significant difference between the turnaround time for the US trainees and the pathologist based in the lab in Trinidad. Trainees and clinicians reported a high level of satisfaction, and the collaboration was fruitful, resulting in the publication of a case report. We demonstrate that collaboration between US trainees and laboratories in resource-restricted settings, in the form of a global health elective, is mutually beneficial.

Understanding Experiences of Moral Distress in End-of-Life Care Among US and UK Physician Trainees: a Comparative Qualitative Study.

BackgroundMoral distress is a state in which a clinician cannot act in accordance with their ethical beliefs because of external constraints. Physician trainees, who work within rigid hierarchies and who lack clinical experience, are particularly vulnerable to moral distress. We examined the dynamics of physician trainee moral distress in end-of-life care by comparing experiences in two different national cultures and healthcare systems.ObjectiveWe investigated cultural factors in the US and the UK that may produce moral distress within their respective healthcare systems, as well as how these factors shape experiences of moral distress among physician trainees.DesignSemi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews about experiences of end-of-life care and moral distress.ParticipantsSixteen internal medicine residents in the US and fourteen junior doctors in the UK.ApproachThe work was analyzed using thematic analysis.Key ResultsSome drivers of moral distress were similar among US and UK trainees, including delivery of potentially inappropriate treatments, a poorly defined care trajectory, and involvement of multiple teams creating different care expectations. For UK trainees, healthcare team hierarchy was common, whereas for US trainees, pressure from families, a lack of guidelines for withholding inappropriate treatments, and distress around physically harming patients were frequently cited. US trainees described how patient autonomy and a fear of lawsuits contributed to moral distress, whereas UK trainees described how societal expectations around resource allocation mitigated it.ConclusionThis research highlights how the differing experiences of moral distress among US and UK physician trainees are influenced by their countries’ healthcare cultures. This research illustrates how experiences of moral distress reflect the broader culture in which it occurs and suggests how trainees may be particularly vulnerable to it. Clinicians and healthcare leaders in both countries can learn from each other about policies and practices that might decrease the moral distress trainees experience.

ATTENTION: Workforce shortages as a barrier to optimal dialysis

Providing optimal end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) management requires an adequately trained and sufficiently staffed workforce, including doctors, nurses, and patient care technicians (PCTs). The growing need for ESKD services for a surging population of dialysis-dependent patients has made obvious a workforce crisis affecting nephrology. For a multitude of reasons, the physician workforce supply available to provide dialysis care has failed to expand commensurate with patients need in recent years. Of most importance, fewer US trainees are choosing to enter nephrology, and fewer international medical graduates are available to fill training program rosters. Equally important but less frequently cited are occupational shortages of trained dialysis nurses and PCTs. This article brings attention to this complex workforce shortage and addresses the limited information available regarding how it might constitute a barrier to optimal dialysis care.

Incoming International Medical Graduates and the COVID-19 Pandemic: More Than Meets the Eye.

Incoming International Medical Graduates and the COVID-19 Pandemic: More Than Meets the Eye.

Prevalence of fatigue among postgraduate trainees in the United States and Japan.

BackgroundThe difference in prevalence of fatigue among postgraduate trainees between the United States and Japan is unknown.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey using Iowa Fatigue Scale was administered on postgraduate trainees in two internal medicine residency programs in New York and five postgraduate residency programs in Japan.ResultsOf the 393 trainees, 135 (34%) completed the survey. Seventy‐seven (57%) were US trainees. Both fatigue (42% vs 81%) and severe fatigue (4% vs 19%) were more prevalent in Japan (P < .01). US trainees felt more productive during work hours but less fatigued.ConclusionsFatigue was more prevalent among postgraduate trainees in Japan.

US trainee perspectives on a national pay-for-performance program

Background: As the largest national pay-for-performance program to date in the United States, the Medicare Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) will meaningfully affect US trainees as they enter clinical practice. However, trainee perspectives about this national pay-for-performance program remain unknown. Methods: We conducted a web-based survey among 186 internal medicine residents and fellows from a national sample maintained by the American College of Physicians. The survey assessed perspectives about how physician efforts in four areas—reporting and performing well on clinical quality measures; initiating or participating in clinical practice improvement activities; controlling patients’ resource utilization; implementing and using electronic health records—impact the value of care when considered as general focus areas or components of MIPS. The survey also assessed other perspectives, including whether MIPS might prompt behaviors that represent unintended consequences. Results: Of 393 eligible trainees, 186 (47%) responded. Most (76–84%) believed that physician efforts in the four focus areas would ultimately improve the value of patient care. Once informed that the four focus areas correspond to MIPS domains, slightly over half (57%) of respondents believed that MIPS policy would ultimately improve value. Most trainees believed that MIPS would encourage behaviors that could represent unintended consequences, such as focusing on aspects of care being measured to the detriment of other unmeasured aspects of care. Conclusions: Trainee perspectives about MIPS and its underlying focus areas were generally positive, although this study highlights areas in which educators and practice leaders can further prepare trainees for such national pay-for-performance programs and provide feedback to improve policy design.

Assessing the Clinical Learning Environment in an Institution in the United Arab Emirates: The Resident Perspective.

A new accreditation model in the United States has increased focus on the clinical learning environment (CLE). There is limited research on trainee perceptions of the CLE in international settings. We surveyed residents to obtain their perspective on the CLE at 1 sponsoring institution in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We surveyed residents at Tawam Hospital, UAE, a sponsoring institution with 142 trainees, on their perspectives in the 6 focal areas of the US Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) to gather baseline information. We administered a 26-item questionnaire to residents through an audience response system in November 2018. Of 100 residents in postgraduate year 2 and above, 72 (72%) responded. The perspective of the majority of respondents was favorable in the areas of reporting patient safety incidents, engaging in quality improvement activities, using a standardized form for care transition, and using professional guidelines for electronic health record documentation. In contrast, only half of the respondents perceived there is honesty in the reporting of duty hours, and only 36% felt the organization supported fatigue management. Other areas for improvement included residents' understanding of the concept of health disparities and activities to address health disparities. Our findings suggest that in key focal areas related to patient safety, health care quality, care transitions, and professionalism, UAE residents have similar perceptions of their CLE as US trainees. Opportunities for improvement include duty hour reporting, fatigue mitigation, and addressing health disparities.

Prevalence of Female Authors in Case Reports Published in the Medical Literature

Underrepresentation of female authors in research publications is prevalent, but it is unclear whether this is attributable to sex disparities in research conduct or authorship practices. Case reports are a poorly understood component of the biomedical corpus, and the production of anecdotal observations is not confounded by factors associated with disparities in female representation in research publications. Whether female authorship disparities exist in nonresearch publications of clinical information is unknown. To examine the authorship of case reports and elucidate factors associated with sex disparity. Cross-sectional study of all case reports published by US authors in 2014 and 2015 indexed in PubMed performed from July 2015 to July 2018. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of female first authors. The secondary outcome measures were the proportion of female last authors and female authorship representation among different clinical specialties. Bibliometric data was abstracted from 20 427 case reports published across 2538 journals. A total of 7252 (36%) and 4825 (25%) case reports had a female first and last author, respectively. In comparison, 44% and 34% of US trainees and physicians, respectively, were female in 2015. Among adult case reports, female authorship was more prevalent in academic environments compared with community settings (34.0% vs 28.2% for female first authors and 23.4% vs 19.7% for female last authors). Across states, the proportions of female first authors and last authors were universally less than the proportions of female trainees and active female physicians, respectively. Female first authorship was associated with larger author teams (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), an academic affiliation (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.27), and a female last author (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.47-1.70). Relative to general internal medicine, specialties dominated by male clinicians were less frequently associated with female first authors. Several exceptions displaying a relatively equivalent tendency for male and female first authorship included oncology (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.81-1.16), ophthalmology (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.72-1.05), and radiation oncology (OR, 0.94 95% CI, 0.56-1.56). The underrepresentation of women among first and last authors in publications of case reports underscores the pervasiveness of sex disparities in medicine. Collaboration and female mentors may be critical instruments in upsetting longstanding practices associated with sex bias. Not all clinical specialties were associated with lower-than-expected female authorship, and further exploration of specialty-specific norms in publication and mentorship may elucidate specific barriers to female authorship.

A Review of Gynecologic Oncology in the Global Setting: Educating and Training the Next Generation of Women's Health Providers.

Women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are responsible for the stability of their families. Child survival is directly linked to the health and well-being of their mother. Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the incidence and mortality for women from cancer are projected to increase over the coming decades. Gynecologic cancer outcomes are improved when women are cared for by a gynecologic oncologist; however, there are limited specialized providers in LMICs. Increasing interest and involvement from specialists in the United States will improve partnerships abroad and the care of women worldwide. To summarize the importance of global gynecologic oncology care and the current data for US trainees in obstetrics and gynecology to participate in clinical and capacity-building opportunities. We performed a PubMed literature search for articles pertaining to the topic of global health education in obstetrics and gynecology and gynecologic oncology specifically. Many obstetric and gynecologic residency programs offer international opportunities, but these are less than those in other specialties and are more frequently focused in obstetrics. Many gynecologic oncology fellowship programs offer international experiences for fellows; however, the time and resources required are limited. Several US and international programs are ongoing to improve capacity building for gynecologic oncology in LMICs with local trainees. Training and care in gynecologic oncology care worldwide are improving through efforts at multiple levels. Continued efforts are needed to improve US trainee international education and experience.

Disparities among Domestic Radiation Oncology (RO) Graduates’ Job Application Patterns and Top Choice Preferences

There is concern among US trainees regarding future job availability; however, the impact of graduates’ personal preferences when applying for jobs is unknown. Here we investigate application patterns and preferences of domestic RO graduates. An anonymous, voluntary survey was distributed to 665 RO graduates from the years 2013-2017. Questions assessed graduates’ job preferences in respect to region (Northeast=NE; Midwest=MW; South=SO; West=WE), job type (Academic vs. Non-Academic) and city population size (0-100K, 100-200K, 200-500K, >500K). Categorical variables were compared using chi-squared tests. A total of 301 (45.3%) responses were obtained: 82 (27.2%), 74 (24.6%), 85 (28.2%), and 60 (19.9%) were from NE, MW, SO, and WE graduates. The most to least commonly applied to regions were SO (69.4%), MW (55.5%), WE (55.1%), and NE (54.8%). 82.4%, 78.1%, and 60.5% of graduates sent applications to only Academic, only Non-Academic, and both job types, respectively. The most to least common applications based on population size were to cities with >500K (85.2%), 200-500K (51.3%), 100-200K (35.9%), and 0-100K (26.0%) people. Of those with a top regional choice (n=285), 31.2%, 29.1%, 23.2%, & 23.2% chose the WE, SO, NE, & MW, respectively. When analyzing top regional choice by graduates’ region of training, the majority of respondents in all regions, except the MW, preferred to stay in the region they were trained (NE 62.0%; MW 44.3%; SO 63.3%; WE 82.5%, p<.001). Overall, the preferred job type was 49.8% & 50.2% for Academic & Non-Academic. When comparing across residency regions, a statistically significant difference was noted in preferred job type, with 67.1%, 44.6%, 47.1%, and 36.7% responding graduates from the NE, MW, SO, and WE preferring Academic jobs (p=0.002). Respondents’ top city population choice was 64.5%, 17.9%, 10.6%, and 7.0% for >500K, 200-500K, 100-200K, and 0-100K. A population size of >500K was preferred by 65.2%, 42.6%, 62.7%, and 78.7% of respondents choosing the NE, MW, SO, and WE as their top choice, respectively, while 0-100K was the preferred choice of 4.6%, 14.9%, 8.4%, and 4.5% of respondents choosing the NE, MW, SO, and WE as their top choice, respectively (p=0.007). In this study of RO graduates’ job preferences, we note a strong urban vs. rural imbalance, regional variation between top job type, and an overall low interest in practicing in the MW. These results, combined with our prior analysis showing geographic RO job maldistribution rather than shortage, may help explain the current trepidation felt among trainees. Assessing geographic and population preferences in future RO candidates may be one approach to address potential market discrepancies.Abstract TU_8_2970; Table 1Top Choice RegionNE (n=66)MW (n=47)SO (n=83)WE (n=89)P<.001Region TrainedNE (n=79)49 (62.0%)4 (5.1%)9 (11.4%)17 (21.5%)MW (n=70)5 (7.1%)31 (44.3%)17 (24.3%)17 (24.3%)SO (n=79)11 (13.9%)10 (12.6%)50 (63.3%)8 (10.1%)WE (n=57)1 (1.8%)2 (3.5%)7 (12.3%)47 (82.5%) Open table in a new tab

In Pursuit of Fellowship: Results From a 2016 Survey of US Trainees

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to gauge radiology trainee perceptions regarding the fellowship selection process and survey their perceived level of preparedness and desire for a fellowship-oriented lecture. MethodsA survey, approved by Association of Program Coordinators in Radiology (APCR) was distributed via e-mail to all APCR members for distribution to their residents. ResultsA total of 98.6% (n = 261) of residents plan to pursue a fellowship. The most popular fellowships are interventional radiology, body, musculoskeletal, and Neuro. For fellowship information, residents believe that fellowship directors in their field of intent were the most reliable (76%), followed by fellows (65%). Only approximately 50% of residents felt somewhat strongly that they were preparing for their fellowship application correctly. Lastly, 44% of residents (n = 94) replied extremely likely to attend a lecture series given by fellowship directors, and 36% (n = 77) said somewhat likely. ConclusionThis survey demonstrates that most trainees plan to pursue fellowship training. Residents ranked certain resources as more important in fellowship selection, such as fellowship directors and fellows. Lastly, there is a high interest in a lecture series that would bring together fellowship directors and residents that are interested in that particular fellowship.