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Pursuit of Board-Certified Subspecialties in Obstetrics and Gynecology by Graduating Residents, 2001-2010
Poster
William F. Rayburn, MD, MBA
Larry C. Gilstrap, MD, Norman F. Gant, MD
Winner 2012 CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting – 3rd Place Poster Presentation
Objective: A lack of growth in the number of residency positions has been compounded by a perception that more graduates wish to subspecialize rather than to function as general obstetrician-gynecologists. The objective of this study was to determine whether there has been an increase in resident graduates pursuing fellowship training in the current board-certified subspecialties.
Methods: This study examined data published annually in the ABOG (American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology) Diplomate between 2001 and 2011. Annual comparisons were made between the numbers of graduating residents electing to pursue additional training in any of the three board-certified subspecialties. We examined the numbers who took the written examination first-time, became board-certified, and took the maintenance of certification examination in relation to those in general obstetrics and gynecology.
Results: The numbers of resident graduates who pursued and completed fellowship training increased in all three subspecialties with a progressive overall increase from 8.3% to 12.2% (p < .001). The proportion of all graduates who became board-certified in any of the subspecialties each year did not trend linearly (10.8% overall; 4.8% in maternal-fetal medicine, 3.1% in reproductive endocrinology, and 2.9% in gynecologic oncology). Board-certified subspecialists constituted 13.6% of all ACOG Fellows who took their annual maintenance of certification examination.
Conclusion: The previously reported decline in residents entering fellowships in reproductive endocrinology and maternal-fetal medicine has reversed, and the proportion of all graduating residents pursuing fellowship training in the subspecialties increased during the past 10 years. Unless there is a change in fellowship slots, we anticipate that this trend will continue for residents to fill those fellowship positions in those subspecialties. We also anticipate that board-certification in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery will add another 3% into the subspecialty workforce.
Topics:
CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2012, Resident, Residency Director, GME, Gynecologic Oncology, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, General Ob-Gyn,
