297 - Shaping Career Pathways: Pediatric Residents’ Perceptions of a Career in Neonatology

Publication Number: 1283.297

Christine Carlos, University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine, CHICAGO, IL, United States; Imran Mir, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, United States; Jaclyn Eisenberg, Comer Children's Hospital at University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States

Background: Pediatric residency serves as the underpinning to understanding career expectations for their chosen fields. This understanding can be influenced by clinical experience, mentorship, and self-exploration and has direct impact in future career satisfaction. Studies have shown that Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) fellowship program directors and first-year fellows believe trainees are ill-prepared for fellowship. Recent Accredited Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) changes have the potential to affect neonatology (NICU) exposure and clinical experience impacting what residents understand about the sub-specialty.

Objective: To identify what pediatric residents know and understand about a career in neonatology

Design/Methods: A survey was electronically distributed via REDCap to pediatric residents in accredited US Pediatric Residency Programs. Purposive sampling was performed to identify and include programs of various sizes, geographic distribution, and NICU exposure. Responses were anonymous. Quantitative survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: The survey was sent to 6 pediatric residency programs. 50 out of 484 residents responded (10.3%) and participant characteristics were varied (Table 1). 64% understand neonatology to be a hospital-based specialty but 36% believe it to be both hospital-based and clinic-based. 38% believe neonatologists practice only within a health system/academic institution practice group while 62% believe opportunities exist in both health systems/academic institutions and private practice groups. The median yearly compensation is believed to be between $150,000 to $499,999 which is thought to fall into the 3rd, 4th, or highest quintile compared to other pediatric subspecialties. The majority of residents understand the skills that fall under the scope of practice for a neonatologist, however, there is more variable understanding of procedures that are performed (Figure 1).

Conclusion(s): Pediatric residents demonstrate a varied understanding of the different aspects of a neonatology career. There is concern amongst neonatology educators that decreased NICU exposure in residency will lead to even less residents' choosing it as a subspecialty. Additionally, there is concern for an increase in career dissatisfaction due to unmet career expectations stemming from a lack of career understanding when choosing the field. Given these challenges, it is important to evaluate what pediatric residents currently understand about a career in neonatology and identify any gaps in knowledge or misconceptions to direct recruitment efforts in coming years.

Table 1: Resident Characteristics and NICU Exposure, n = 50 (%)


Figure 1: Resident Perceptions of the Neonatology Scope of Practice
Blue represents procedures. Purple represents skills.