The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship application webinar series: a novel approach to helping applicants succeed

Abstract Background In 2022, 13,586 candidates applied to subspecialty fellowships. Formal resources to inform candidates on subspecialty-specific fellowship application are limited. Candidates rely on residency application experience, informal advice, and online research for navigating the applicat...

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Main Authors: Michelle J. Bartlett, Ellen Ribar, Yingying Zheng, Sasha Amiri, Nicolle Fernández Dyess, Ashley M. Lucke, Heather French
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-09-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04644-z
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author Michelle J. Bartlett
Ellen Ribar
Yingying Zheng
Sasha Amiri
Nicolle Fernández Dyess
Ashley M. Lucke
Heather French
author_facet Michelle J. Bartlett
Ellen Ribar
Yingying Zheng
Sasha Amiri
Nicolle Fernández Dyess
Ashley M. Lucke
Heather French
author_sort Michelle J. Bartlett
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In 2022, 13,586 candidates applied to subspecialty fellowships. Formal resources to inform candidates on subspecialty-specific fellowship application are limited. Candidates rely on residency application experience, informal advice, and online research for navigating the application process. Thus, a need exists for formal subspecialty-specific fellowship application guidance. The American Academy of Pediatrics Organization of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Training Program Directors (ONTPD) and Trainees and Early Career Neonatologists (TECaN) created a webinar-based curriculum to help educate trainees about the application process and recruit diverse fellowship applicants. Methods In 2022, ONTPD and TECaN co-hosted and implemented a four-part national webinar series focused on different aspects of the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) fellowship application and interview processes. Webinars were advertised through list-servs and social media, conducted in two time zones, and recorded for asynchronous viewing. Registration, demographic data, and questions for webinar panelists were collected via electronic survey. Program evaluation data was collected after each webinar and following the fellowship match. Results In the 2022 appointment year, 310 candidates participated in the NPM fellowship match and 250 individuals registered for the webinar series. A quarter (26%) of registrants identified as underrepresented in medicine. Most registrants reported minimal or no knowledge of the fellowship application (64%, 158/248) and interview (81%, 201/248) processes. The majority of registrants (70%, 173/248) were planning on applying to fellowship in 2022, and 91% of post-webinar respondents (43/47) felt the webinars were moderately or extremely helpful, a finding that was sustained beyond the match (37/42). Almost all respondents rated the quality of the webinars as good or higher and were likely or very likely to recommend them to peers (39/42). There was considerable variability amongst respondents in the number of fellowship programs applied to, interviewed at, and ranked, and factors influencing rank list. Conclusion We describe a virtual curriculum to prepare trainees for the NPM fellowship application and interview process. This webinar series provides needed education to fellowship candidates, bridges the gap between candidate knowledge and program director expectations, is generalizable to other specialties, and can be replicated with minimal resources.
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spelling doaj.art-ea4baa73612d40e2a11ecb2822a9fc032023-11-20T09:47:43ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202023-09-012311710.1186/s12909-023-04644-zThe Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship application webinar series: a novel approach to helping applicants succeedMichelle J. Bartlett0Ellen Ribar1Yingying Zheng2Sasha Amiri3Nicolle Fernández Dyess4Ashley M. Lucke5Heather French6Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaDepartment of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of ColoradoDepartment of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, East Carolina UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, Rush University Medical CenterDepartment of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of ColoradoDepartment of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, Dell Children’s Medical Center, Pediatrix Medical Group, University of Texas at AustinDepartment of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaAbstract Background In 2022, 13,586 candidates applied to subspecialty fellowships. Formal resources to inform candidates on subspecialty-specific fellowship application are limited. Candidates rely on residency application experience, informal advice, and online research for navigating the application process. Thus, a need exists for formal subspecialty-specific fellowship application guidance. The American Academy of Pediatrics Organization of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Training Program Directors (ONTPD) and Trainees and Early Career Neonatologists (TECaN) created a webinar-based curriculum to help educate trainees about the application process and recruit diverse fellowship applicants. Methods In 2022, ONTPD and TECaN co-hosted and implemented a four-part national webinar series focused on different aspects of the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) fellowship application and interview processes. Webinars were advertised through list-servs and social media, conducted in two time zones, and recorded for asynchronous viewing. Registration, demographic data, and questions for webinar panelists were collected via electronic survey. Program evaluation data was collected after each webinar and following the fellowship match. Results In the 2022 appointment year, 310 candidates participated in the NPM fellowship match and 250 individuals registered for the webinar series. A quarter (26%) of registrants identified as underrepresented in medicine. Most registrants reported minimal or no knowledge of the fellowship application (64%, 158/248) and interview (81%, 201/248) processes. The majority of registrants (70%, 173/248) were planning on applying to fellowship in 2022, and 91% of post-webinar respondents (43/47) felt the webinars were moderately or extremely helpful, a finding that was sustained beyond the match (37/42). Almost all respondents rated the quality of the webinars as good or higher and were likely or very likely to recommend them to peers (39/42). There was considerable variability amongst respondents in the number of fellowship programs applied to, interviewed at, and ranked, and factors influencing rank list. Conclusion We describe a virtual curriculum to prepare trainees for the NPM fellowship application and interview process. This webinar series provides needed education to fellowship candidates, bridges the gap between candidate knowledge and program director expectations, is generalizable to other specialties, and can be replicated with minimal resources.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04644-zNeonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship applicationWebinar seriesFellowship preparation
spellingShingle Michelle J. Bartlett
Ellen Ribar
Yingying Zheng
Sasha Amiri
Nicolle Fernández Dyess
Ashley M. Lucke
Heather French
The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship application webinar series: a novel approach to helping applicants succeed
BMC Medical Education
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship application
Webinar series
Fellowship preparation
title The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship application webinar series: a novel approach to helping applicants succeed
title_full The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship application webinar series: a novel approach to helping applicants succeed
title_fullStr The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship application webinar series: a novel approach to helping applicants succeed
title_full_unstemmed The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship application webinar series: a novel approach to helping applicants succeed
title_short The Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship application webinar series: a novel approach to helping applicants succeed
title_sort neonatal perinatal medicine fellowship application webinar series a novel approach to helping applicants succeed
topic Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship application
Webinar series
Fellowship preparation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04644-z
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