A Changing Landscape: Exploring Resident Perspectives on Pursuing Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowships

BACKGROUND: Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) was approved as a subspecialty in 2016. Perspectives of pediatric and combined pediatric residents regarding barriers and facilitators to pursuing PHM fellowships have not previously been assessed.

METHODS: A survey to explore residents’ perspectives on PHM fellowships, with questions regarding demographics, likelihood of pursuing PHM after fellowship introduction, and influencing factors was distributed to pediatric and combined pediatric residents via program directors.

RESULTS: The survey was distributed to an estimated 2657 residents. A total of 855 (32.2%) residents completed the survey; 89% of respondents had at least considered a career in PHM, and 79.4% reported that the introduction of the PHM fellowship requirement for subspecialty certification made them less likely to pursue PHM. Intent to practice in a community setting or only temporarily practice PHM, Combined Internal Medicine and Pediatric trainee status, and high student loan burden were associated with decreased likelihood of pursuing PHM (P < .05). Most respondents reported that forfeited earnings during fellowship, family and student loan obligations, and perceived sufficiency of residency training discouraged them from pursuing PHM fellowship. Half of respondents valued additional training in medical education, quality improvement, hospital administration, research, and clinical medicine.

CONCLUSIONS: Many survey respondents expressed interest in the opportunity to acquire new skills through PHM fellowship. However, the majority of respondents reported being less likely to pursue PHM after the introduction of fellowship requirement for board certification, citing financial and personal opportunity costs. Understanding factors that residents value and those that discourage residents from pursuing PHM fellowship training may help guide future iterations of fellowship design.