Pediatric hospital medicine fellow expectations for postgraduate employment

Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) has a rapidly changing landscape following subspecialty certification in 2016. As the field continues to evolve, so does the role of fellowship training.

The goal of this study was to characterize postgraduate expectations of current PHM fellows to contribute to the understanding of PHM workforce dynamics.

Using a constructivist approach, we employed a cross-sectional survey method with both multiple-choice and free-text questions to study PHM fellows' perspectives regarding posttraining employment and motivations for pursuing fellowship. We used multiple listservs to recruit current PHM fellows for participation. We analyzed survey data using descriptive statistics and free-text responses using conventional inductive content analysis.

A total of 119 PHM fellows (response rate 61%) completed the survey. Most participants anticipated higher starting salaries, more protected time and leadership opportunities, and more efficient career advancement because of PHM fellowship training. Additionally, participants noted several modifiable factors influencing their postgraduate employment considerations which included workplace culture and lifestyle considerations. Participants reported various motivations for pursuing PHM fellowship training, including future job security and career flexibility.

Despite different reasons for pursuing additional training, the majority of PHM fellows in our study believe that fellowship training should result in increased compensation, resources, and career opportunities than if they had not completed fellowship training. These findings have implications for counseling trainees interested in PHM and for the PHM workforce.