A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey of Anesthesiology Fellowship Program Directors: Attitudes on Parental Leave in...

Little is known about the impact of parental leave on anesthesiology fellowship directors' perception of their fellows. In addition, use of parental leave during residency can result in "off-cycle" residents applying for a fellowship. This study sought to clarify fellowship directors' attitudes and beliefs on effects of parental leave on fellows and off-cycle fellowship applicants.

An online survey was sent to anesthesiology fellowship program directors through e-mail addresses obtained from websites of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and specialty societies. Descriptive statistical analysis was used.

In total, 101 fellowship directors (31% response rate) completed the survey. Forty-one (41%) directors had a fellow who took maternity leave in the past 3 years. Among the programs, 49 (49%) have a written policy about maternity leave and 36 (36%) have a written paternity or partner leave policy. Overall, most fellowship directors believed that becoming a parent had no impact on fellow performance and professionalism; more respondents perceived a greater negative impact on scholarly activities, standardized test scores, and procedural volume for female trainees than male trainees. Some fellowship directors (10/94; 11%) reported they do not allow off-cycle residents in their program. Among programs that allow off-cycle residents, more directors perceived it a disadvantage rather than an advantage.

Fellowship directors perceive that anesthesiology residents who finish training outside the typical graduation cycle are at a disadvantage for fellowship training.