Maternal-fetal medicine fellowship obstetrical ultrasound experience: results from a fellowship survey

To assess maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) fellowship obstetrical ultrasound training, scope of practice and research.

A 52-item prenatal diagnosis survey was e-mailed to 458 associate members of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine on two separate occasions. Associate members include both MFM fellows and recent graduates who are not yet board certified in MFM.

A total of 148 associate members completed the survey (32% response rate), 92% of whom were at least in their second year of fellowship. A total of 58% of fellows spend at least 20% of their fellowship time performing prenatal ultrasounds, and most begin their ultrasound training in their first year. Most fellows describe being comfortable performing routine fetal anatomy surveys, growth ultrasounds and umbilical artery Doppler measurements, but only 48% are nuchal translucency (NT) certified, most through Nuchal Translucency Quality Review. A total of 7% of fellows do not receive structured training in 2D ultrasound, 39% receive no structured training in 3D/4D ultrasound, and 28% receive no structured training in fetal echocardiography. Only 38% can identify an ultrasound mentor during fellowship.

Most fellows are trained in ultrasound during their first year of fellowship and feel comfortable performing routine exams. However, ultrasound mentorship, structured training and research in prenatal ultrasound are limited in some programs.