A comparison of career plans of gastroenterology fellows compared to fellows in other internal medicine subspecialties

Saqr Alsakarneh; Mohammad Almeqdadi; Fouad Jaber; Azizullah Beran; Mohammd Aldiabat; Yassine Kilani; Adam Muhammad Reid; Mir Zulqarnain; Saeed Abughazaleh; Nikki Duong; Wendell Clarkston

doi:10.1080/08998280.2023.2282819

A comparison of career plans of gastroenterology fellows compared to fellows in other internal medicine subspecialties

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2023 Dec 20;37(1):96-100. doi: 10.1080/08998280.2023.2282819. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
² Department of Transplant Surgery, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA.
³ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.
⁵ Public Health Department, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
⁶ Department of Medicine, Lincoln Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.
⁷ Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
⁸ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
⁹ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA.

Abstract

Background: The career trajectory of medical professionals, particularly in specialized fields like gastroenterology, can significantly impact healthcare and research. This study aimed to analyze career choices among gastroenterology fellows in the US and investigate the factors influencing these choices.

Methods: We utilized data from the American Medical Association on internal medicine subspecialty fellows. The study examined career plans of gastroenterology fellows and compared them with those of other subspecialties. A chi-square test was performed to assess differences in career choices and practice settings.

Results: Among gastroenterology fellows, 46% opted for private practice, 28% pursued further training, and 26% chose academia. Notably, gastroenterology fellows were more inclined toward private practice than their counterparts in other subspecialties (46.3% vs 38.4%) and were less likely to pursue academic careers (25.6% vs 30.7%).

Conclusion: This study highlights a concerning trend among recent gastroenterology fellowship graduates favoring private practice over academic careers or additional training. To sustain and strengthen academic medicine in gastroenterology, interventions such as scholarships, mentorship programs, and loan repayment initiatives tailored to academic pursuits could play a crucial role.

Keywords: Academia; career; compensation; gastroenterology; private practice.