TOP 14 - Career Development in Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowships: A Qualitative Analysis

Publication Number: 1774.TOP 14

Andzelika Dechnik, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, Middle Village, NY, United States; Kavya Prasad, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, New York, NY, United States; Jessica Ashley, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States; Erin M. Hannon, NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, New York, NY, United States; Lauren Chernick, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States; Cindy G. Roskind, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States

Background: Studies show that mentorship in career development facilitates the transition to academic pediatric faculty positions. However, within pediatric emergency medicine (PEM), there is no published literature describing how fellowships structure career development curricula nor which components are deemed most useful to PEM fellows when choosing a career path or faculty position. As PEM subspecialization expands and the number of advanced fellowship opportunities increases, structured career development is increasingly important.

Objective: This study had two aims: (1) To assess how PEM fellowship program directors (PDs) provide career development to their fellows and (2) to explore how PEM junior faculty (JF) experienced career development during fellowship. Both groups offered advice on how career development during PEM fellowship can be optimized.

Design/Methods: This study was deemed exempt by the Columbia University Institutional Review Board.

In this qualitative study, we developed two interview guides to explore PEM fellowship PD and JF perspectives on career development during fellowship, perceived barriers, and opportunities for improvement. We conducted semi-structured 1:1 interviews of PDs and JF (within two years of fellowship graduation). PDs were identified from a published list and purposively sampled by geographic region and program size. PDs were then asked to identify recent program graduates and JF in their departments. Additional JF were recruited via direct email. Interviews continued until thematic saturation. Participants completed a demographic survey following the interview. All participants received a $40 gift card.

Audio files of interviews were transcribed via Datalyst and de-identified. Four members of the research team coded transcripts using NVivo 15.3.0. A sample of transcripts was first co-coded using the initial code book. Points of difference were resolved through discussion, and the codebook was revised accordingly until 65% overlap was achieved. The remaining interviews were independently coded. We will collaboratively use a thematic analysis process to identify and summarize key themes.

Interviewee demographics:
We interviewed 20 PDs and 19 JF. PDs represented programs from the Northeast (37%, N=7), Midwest (32%, N=6), South (16%, N=3), and West (16%, N=3). Most PDs (74%, N=14) represented programs with >=6 fellows. JF respondents completed fellowship in the Northeast (32%, N=6), South (32%, N=6), Midwest (26%, N=5) and West (10%, N=2).

Timeline:
11/1-12/31: Thematic analysis
1/1-1/31: Generation of tables/figures, formulation of conclusions