The current state of pediatric transplant hepatology fellowships: A survey of recent graduates

the SPLIT Education Committee, the Pediatric Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Program Directors

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The number of programs offering a PTH fellowship has grown rapidly over the last 10 years. This study aimed to describe the clinical, didactic, procedural, and research experiences of recent PTH fellowship graduates. In addition, we sought to understand graduates’ post-fellowship professional responsibilities and their perception about the utility of the PTH fellowship. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed from February to October 2020 through REDCap to all recent graduates (2015–2019) of an ACGME-approved PTH fellowship program. The survey consisted of 49 questions focused on the PTH fellowship experience. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: Thirty-eight of 43 graduates (88%) responded to the survey representing 12 PTH fellowship programs. The didactic experience varied; 97% received pathology lectures, 81% radiology lectures, 54% organ allocation lectures, 54% procedural lectures, 57% immunology lectures, and 43% live donation lectures. During the PTH fellowship, the majority of fellows performed >10 liver biopsies (82%) and >5 variceal bandings (58%); however, 63%, 32%, 8%, and 8% never performed paracentesis, variceal sclerotherapy, variceal banding, and liver biopsies, respectively. The majority of fellows (95%) completed a research project during PTH fellowship. Currently, 84% of graduates are employed at a transplant academic institution. All graduates recommended the fellowship. Conclusions: There is variability in the didactic, clinical, and procedural training among PTH fellowship programs. Although uniformly viewed as a beneficial fellowship year, there is an opportunity to collaborate to create a more standardized training experience.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere14065
JournalPediatric transplantation
Volume25
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021

Funding

AF has funding from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Grant/Award Number 1K08 HS026510-01A1. EH has a research grant through Abbvie for Hepatitis C treatment in Children The authors would like to acknowledge the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation. The data analysis, conclusions, and any recommendations in this body of work are supported by SPLIT. In addition, the authors would like to acknowledge all current PTH fellowship training sites who aided in development of this survey: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Boston, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center, Emory University, Stanford University, Texas Children’s Hospital, University of California Los Angeles, University of California San Francisco, University of Colorado, University of Nebraska, University of Pittsburgh, University of Utah, University of Washington, Washington University. AF has funding from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Grant/Award Number 1K08 HS026510‐01A1. EH has a research grant through Abbvie for Hepatitis C treatment in Children

Keywords

  • liver transplantation
  • pediatric medical training

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Transplantation
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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