The Fellow’s Perspective: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Fellowship Training and Job Appointment

Abstract

Background Fellows have been uniquely affected by the widespread changes in educational structure, mandatory limitations in elective procedural volume, and hiring freezes during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Study Design A voluntary and anonymous survey was distributed to all Graduate Medical Education fellows at a tertiary medical center querying perspectives on clinical and didactic training and job placement. Results A total of 47 of 121 fellows (39%) completed the survey. The majority were in a medical (43%) or surgical specialty (34%) followed by critical care (13%) and procedure-based (11%) fellowships. Approximately 59% of surveyed fellows felt their programs were providing a virtual curriculum that would train them just as well as the in-person curriculum. Twenty-eight (60%) fellows were in their final or only year of training. Of the 25 fellows who were seeking employment, 52% have experienced difficulty in finding a job due to hiring freezes and 40% have encountered challenges with job interview cancellations and changes to virtual interview formats. Conclusion Almost half of surveyed fellows reported an educational deterioration due to COVID-19 and graduating fellows seeking employment felt hindered by both the virtual interview format and widespread hiring freeze. Fellows are both unique and vulnerable as they balance the solidification of clinical training with securing employment during these tumultuous and unprecedented times.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Pediatricians Entering the Pediatric Workforce

“…Studies from other residency specialties, such as surgery and plastic surgery, and pediatric subspecialties, such as pediatric gastroenterology, also indicate a negative impact on employment by the COVID-19 pandemic on some graduates. 15 , 16 , 17 Studies showing an unprecedented 60% decrease in outpatient pediatric visits 9 and 45% decrease in pediatric hospital admissions 8 compared with pre-pandemic years support our finding that the COVID-19 pandemic affected 50% of new pediatricians seeking U.S. GP/PH positions. Our findings are also supported by studies showing decreases in patient volume affecting physicians reporting full-time work, and slightly increased unemployment during the pandemic.…”

Characterizing critical predictors of an academic career following head and neck fellowship in otolaryngology

“…Although our findings showed a promising trend in 2015–2017 where the supply–demand mismatch between academic job openings and HN fellowship graduates narrowed, data from 2018 to the present day were unavailable at the time of data collection and analysis. Thus, we cannot make any definitive conclusions as to whether or not these observed trends still persist or have changed, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic, which has well‐documented effects on job placement 15 . Furthermore, information could not be obtained on all graduates, and some were consequently omitted from analysis.…”

“…Thus, we cannot make any definitive conclusions as to whether or not these observed trends still persist or have changed, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has well-documented effects on job placement. 15 Furthermore, information could not be obtained on all graduates, and some were consequently omitted from analysis. This may have skewed data and affected statistical significance; however, overall attrition was minimal, and the available sample size was robust enough to conduct this study.…”

Exploring the Perceived Educational Impact of COVID-19 on Postgraduate Training in Oncology

“…In a recent study by Rao et al, cardiovascular trainees reported concerns about career advancement and fellowship applications following the cancellation of national conferences and meetings during the pandemic [ 21 ]. Another study reported that fellows experienced difficulty securing a job during the pandemic [ 22 ]. Follow-up data collection to better understand this issue is needed.…”