Survey of clinical informatics fellows graduating 2016-2024: experiences before and during fellowship

Abstract

Objective: To describe experiences and activities of Clinical Informatics (CI) fellows since the first fellowships were accredited in 2014.

Materials and methods: We performed a voluntary and anonymous survey of 394 alumni and current clinical informatics fellows from the graduating classes of 2016-2024 in the summer of 2022.

Results: We received 198 responses; 2% declined to participate. Most were male (62%), White (39%), 31-40 years old (72%), from primary care specialties (54%) and nonprocedural specialties (95%), and without prior informatics experience or any careers before medicine. Most fellows (87-94%) participated significantly in operations, research, coursework, quality improvement, and clinical care activities during fellowship.

Discussion: Women, underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, and procedural physicians were underrepresented. Many incoming CI fellows did not have an informatics background. During CI fellowship, trainees earned Master's degrees and certificates, were exposed to many different types of CI activities, and were able to spend most of their time pursuing projects that supported their personal career goals.

Conclusion: These findings represent the most comprehensive report to date of CI fellows and alumni. Physicians without prior informatics experience who are interested in CI should be encouraged to apply because CI fellowship provides a strong foundation of informatics knowledge while supporting fellows' personal career goals. There remains a lack of women and underrepresented minorities in CI fellowship programs; efforts to expand the pipeline are needed.

Keywords: academic training; clinical informatics; graduate medical education; medical education.