Faculty Collaboration Database

Choosing a fellow or fellowship: a survey of pediatric otolaryngologists. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2014 Feb;140(2):102-5

Date

11/30/2013

Pubmed ID

24288048

DOI

10.1001/jamaoto.2013.5859

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84894499002 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   33 Citations

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: The numbers of pediatric otolaryngology fellowship programs and applicants have increased over the past 5 years. However, the qualities desired in programs and applicants have not been explored.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors that fellowship program directors and applicants believe to be most important in choosing a fellow and the factors most important to fellowship applicants in choosing a program.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cohort study using an anonymous online survey of 2012 pediatric otolaryngology fellowship program directors and applicants. Respondents were asked to rank a list of 10 qualities from most to least important for judging the strength of a fellowship applicant. Applicants also assessed the importance of factors in choosing a fellowship.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Rank of each factor by members of each group.

RESULTS: Thirty-two of 47 applicants (68%) and 15 of 31 fellowship directors (48%) completed the survey. For applicants, the most important factors when choosing a fellowship program were gaining strong experience in airway management and otology, faculty reputation, and location, whereas Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accreditation, fellowship longevity, and salary were less important. For choosing an applicant, applicants indicated that the interview, prior applicant knowledge (trusted recommendation), and letters of recommendation, sequentially, should be given the greatest weight. Directors reported that they used the same top 3 factors to rank applicants, but knowledge or trusted recommendation of the applicant ranked first. Applicants who successfully matched interviewed at (mean, 9.5 vs 3.0; P = .003), applied at (mean, 11.6 vs 4.3; P = .02), and ranked (mean, 8.3 vs 2.3; P < .001) more fellowship programs than those who did not. United States Medical Licensing Examination scores higher than 230 and AΩA membership status did not significantly affect fellowship match.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Personal knowledge or a trusted colleague's recommendation may be the most important determinant when pediatric otolaryngology fellowship programs choose an applicant. When fellows choose a program, the opportunity to gain surgical experience in both otology and airway management is crucial, but ACGME accreditation status seems less important. Successful applicants ranked and interviewed at more fellowship programs than nonmatching applicants.

Author List

Chun R, Preciado D, Brown DJ, Elluru R, Ishman SL, Kerschner J, Richter GT, Sulman C

Author

Robert H. Chun MD Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Decision Making
Education, Medical, Graduate
Faculty, Medical
Fellowships and Scholarships
Female
Humans
Internet
Job Application
Male
Otolaryngology
Personal Satisfaction
Personnel Selection
Program Evaluation
Statistics, Nonparametric
United States