A Survey of Program Directors on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Training in the United States: Programmatic Structure, Learning Environment, and Wellness Activities

Objective We aim to describe the current programmatic structure and learning environment of US neonatal-perinatal medicine (NPM) fellowship programs. Study Design All U.S. NPM program directors (PDs) and associate program directors (APDs) were surveyed. Descriptive statistics for quantitative questions and thematic qualitative analysis of free-text responses were used to summarize findings. Results Out of 102 programs 99 (97%) responded. Out of 99 PDs 25 (25%) reported not receiving minimum ACGME full-time equivalent (FTE) for program administration. Fellows perform a median of 52 weeks (48–54) and 150 (120–165) night calls during training, with clinical time skewing more toward the 1st year. All programs report interaction with front-line clinicians (FLCs), and 81% (80/99) of fellowships reported conflict between fellows and FLCs. A minority of programs formally evaluated or instructed FLCs on teaching skills. PDs and APDs most commonly lead the planning of wellness activities, with only 37% of programs describing a fellow wellness leader. A minority of programs reported wellness committees at the university (40%), department (19%), or division (17%) level. About 25% of programs reported no wellness budget. Conclusion Broadened institutional support toward program requirements and administration and further collaborative efforts with trainees and multidisciplinary providers are opportunities for growth in NPM fellowship programs.