Current Status of the Workforce and Training at Fetal Therapy Centers in North America
Kenneth Joseph Moise1, Emanuel Joseph Vlastos2,3, Ramesha Papanna4,5
1Department of Women's Health, Dell Medical School, UT Health Austin, Comprehensive Fetal Care Center, Dell Children's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA.
Introduction:
We sought to characterize the current workforce and training for fetal intervention procedures at fetal centers in North America.
Methods:
An anonymous electronic survey was developed to query the 34 centers in the North American Fetal Treatment Network regarding the demographics and training of their faculty. Telephone surveys were conducted with directors of known fetal intervention fellowships.
Results:
More than 50% of maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) faculty at fetal centers were female; more than two-thirds of pediatric surgical faculty were male. Most of the training of faculty was undertaken by visiting more experienced centers or having new faculty work with more experienced ones at the same center. Current fetal intervention fellowships appear to achieve levels of competency for intrauterine transfusions and laser therapy for twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Two-thirds of centers stated that they would be able to offer a position to an MFM who completed a formal fellowship in fetal intervention.
Conclusion:
A collaborative effort should be undertaken to establish formal fellowships in fetal medicine and intervention.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:14Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
01:07Teratogenicity