Assessing Trends in Fellowship Training Among Otolaryngology Residents: A National Survey Study

Abstract

Objective To summarize trends in otolaryngology fellowship applications, fellowships selected, and reasons for pursuing a fellowship. Study Design One-page anonymous questionnaire. Setting A survey was completed by examinees at the conclusion of their American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery oral examination from 2011 to 2019. Methods Data included age, gender, fellowship type, reasons for doing a fellowship, and type of practice that examinees will enter. Spearman correlation and Pearson chi-square tests were completed. Results Over the 8-year study, 58% of the 2243 responding examinees did fellowships. The most frequently chosen fellowship was facial plastic surgery (25%), followed by pediatric otolaryngology (21%), head and neck surgery (19%), rhinology (13%), laryngology (9%), and neurotology (8%). The 2 most common reasons for doing a fellowship were desire for additional expertise beyond residency training (35%) and intellectual appeal (30%). Over the study period, the number of residents choosing to do a fellowship increased from 45.6% in 2011 to 61.5% in 2019, with a positive correlation between year and number of residents ( r = 0.73, P = .036). When the data were stratified by gender, there were statistically significant differences in fellowship selection ( P < .001), notably with women selecting pediatric otolaryngology at a higher frequency than men (30.9% vs 15.8%). Conclusion There is a statistically significant increasing trend of otolaryngology residents who choose to undergo further training in fellowship. These data from a large, long-term study will be valuable in planning for training and workforce needs in the future.

Graduating Otolaryngology Residents’ Ideal Practice Expectations: A Longitudinal Analysis

“…Miller et al found a statistically significant increase in the amount of otolaryngology residents pursuing fellowship training, with a 15.9% increase in residents pursuing a fellowship from 2011 to 2019. 2 This correlation is consistent with an increasing number of fellowship positions being offered across the various subspecialties. 5 The most common fellowships among this cohort of graduates were facial plastics, head and neck surgery, and pediatric otolaryngology.…”

Characterizing Medicare Reimbursements and Clinical Activity Among Female Otolaryngologists

“…Younger ORLs are also choosing to do fellowship more often. 42 Thus, younger ORLs may be performing more time-intensive complex cases early in their career, and there may be a lack of young generalists. Nevertheless, this pattern does not appear to hold in a comparison between female ORL graduates from 1970 to 1979 and 2000 to 2010.…”

Distribution of the head and neck surgical oncology workforce in the United States

“…Results of a recent study surveying otolaryngology residents show that 46% of residents in 2011 chose to complete fellowship in any subspecialty, while 62% of residents in 2019 chose to complete fellowship. 14 Across all years, 19% of residents chose to pursue head and neck oncology. At the current rate of growth of AHNS accredited head and neck fellows, the number of practicing surgeons may eclipse cancer incidence in some states, creating a potential supply-demand mismatch.…”