CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Academic Ophthalmology 2018; 10(01): e140-e142
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1669930
Research Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship Survey: Fellows Selection Criteria for Training Programs

Jasleen K. Singh
1   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado–Denver, Aurora, Colorado
,
Kimberly Lovelace
2   Monroe Clinic, Monroe, Wisconsin
,
Jennifer L. Patnaik
1   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado–Denver, Aurora, Colorado
,
Robert Enzenauer
1   Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado–Denver, Aurora, Colorado
› Author Affiliations
Funding This article was supported in part by a challenge grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to the Department of Ophthalmology.
Further Information

Publication History

22 February 2018

27 July 2018

Publication Date:
21 September 2018 (online)

Abstract

Purpose This article investigates the characteristics that trainees look for in a pediatric ophthalmology fellowship program.

Methods A 14-question anonymous survey was created and sent out via the United States Postal Service to all physicians of American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. The survey addressed demographics, the interview process, and the qualities of fellowship training programs that were important factors in ranking fellowship training programs. A Likert scale was used to rate different qualities (1: not important, 9: very important) and summary statistics were reported as overall means and standard deviations.

Results In total, 1,061 were mailed out with 413 returned amounting to a 38.9% response rate. The qualities with the highest mean were diversity of surgical procedures, volume of procedures/surgeries, reputation of the fellowship director, advice from mentor, emphasis on type of surgery performed, program association with an academic institution, and national reputation of program. The characteristics that ranked the lowest were presence of a Veteran's Administration hospital and presence of a county hospital. Females rated proximity to family significantly higher than males. Among responders who ranked volume of procedures/surgeries as very important, strabismus surgery was the most important.

Conclusion Pediatric ophthalmologists chose fellowship training programs based on the diversity and surgical volume of procedures and the reputation of the program director.

Authors' Contributions

All authors contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data, and the drafting and reviewing of the manuscript. All authors gave approval to the version submitted. Dr. Robert Enzenauer is responsible for the overall content as the guarantor and corresponding author.


Supplementary Material

 
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