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

Molly B Kraus; Elizabeth B Malinzak; Rekha Chandrabose; Amy C S Pearson; Cindy Ku; Sarah E Hartlage; Andrew C Hanson; Phillip J Schulte; Emily E Sharpe

doi:10.1089/whr.2021.0130

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

Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2022 May 6;3(1):395-404. doi: 10.1089/whr.2021.0130. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Molly B Kraus¹, Elizabeth B Malinzak², Rekha Chandrabose³, Amy C S Pearson⁴, Cindy Ku⁵, Sarah E Hartlage⁶, Andrew C Hanson⁷, Phillip J Schulte⁷, Emily E Sharpe⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
² Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
³ Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
⁴ Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
⁵ Department of Anesthesiology, Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
⁶ Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
⁷ Division of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
⁸ Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

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

Keywords: critical care; education; obstetrics; pediatrics; subspecialties.