Should Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Move to Two-Year Fellowships?

Authors

Shetal Shah, Department of Pediatrics, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA. shahs2@wcmc.com.
Patrick Myers, Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Josephine M. Enciso, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Alexis S. Davis, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Elizabeth E. Crouch, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Andrea M. Scheurer, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Homer Stryker School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA.
Clara Song, Department of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Anaheim, CA, USA.
Satyan Lakshminrusimha, Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.1038/s41372-024-02020-3

Journal Title

Journal of Perinatology

First Page

1222

Last Page

1227

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2024

Department

Pediatrics

Abstract

The duration of the majority of fellowships in pediatrics has been three-years. With increasing shortages of some outpatient-based pediatric subspecialists, shorter two-year fellowships are being considered for clinically oriented trainees not interested in a career based on research. Shortening the duration of fellowship may have some financial merits such as achieving a higher salary earlier after shorter training. However, we feel that continuing with a three-year duration for neonatology is more pragmatic at this time due to reductions in intensive care rotations during residency, time required to achieve procedural excellence, the need for exposure to quality assurance methodology, proficiency in novel techniques such as bedside ultrasound, and to maintain the physician-scientist pipeline. The demand for neonatal fellowship continues to be high. Ongoing evaluation of the job market, training needs and fellowship curriculum is needed to determine if the duration of fellowship should be altered in the future.

Recommended Citation

Shah, S., Myers, P., Enciso, J. M., Davis, A. S., Crouch, E. E., Scheurer, A. M., Song, C., & Lakshminrusimha, S. (2024). Should Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Move to Two-Year Fellowships?. Journal of Perinatology, 44 (8), 1222-1227. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-02020-3