P ediatric and D e v e lo p m e n ta l P a th o lo g y 18, 257-258, 2015 DOI: 10.2350/15-02-1608-LET. 1 © 2015 Society fo r P ediatric P a th o lo g y

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Pediatric Pathology Fellowship Graduates of ACGME-Accredited Programs: Survey Findings To the Editor, There are several ways of measuring outcomes of subspecialty training in pathology. A couple of the more easily identified or measured methods include whether a graduate continues to practice the subspecialty she trained in or if she has passed the American Board of Pathology (ABP) examination in her subspecialty. Training pro­ grams routinely collect this information on their gradu­ ates. Here we report the findings of a survey that the Fellowship Committee of the Society for Pediatric Pathology (SPP) undertook to understand the paths taken by the fellows graduating from pediatric pathology fellowship programs. In September 2013, the Fellowship Committee of the SPP sent a survey to pediatric pathology fellowship directors to gather information about prior fellows. We received responses back from 22 out of 24 programs. The results of the survey showed that for the 5-year academic period from 2007 through 2012, approximately 77 fellows enrolled in pediatric pathology fellowships, of which 5 withdrew. Of the 72 graduates, at least 57 (79%) have taken the ABP certification exam for pediatric pathology. The data indicate that 21% of otherwise-eligible gradu­ ates chose not to appear for the ABP examination! Furthermore, of the 57 test-takers, 54 received the ABP certification in pediatric pathology. The survey indicated a board certification rate of approximately 95%, which likely includes repeaters of the examination and does not necessarily suggest a board pass rate of 1st-time test-takers. Approximately 50% of fellows completed another fellowship in addition to pediatric pathology. Most pediatric pathology graduates (86%) are practicing pediatric pathology at least part time. The graduates most often work at children’s hospitals (71%), but a significant percentage are working as both adult and pediatric pathologists (at least 48%). The graduates have not taken any professional positions with the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Veterans Administration, or other federal governmen­ tal agencies.

Data obtained from the public records of the American Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) revealed the enrolled trainee number to be 121 during the study period (2007 to 2012). Thus, our survey did not capture information on approximately one third of the enrolled fellows from the studied period [1]. Our survey showed a trend among trainees to undertake 2 fellowships following pathology residency. The ABP’s pediatric pathology board pass rate for the 1st-time testtakers has shown significant fluctuations over the last 5 years. The pass rate of 1st-time test-takers varied from 76% in 2009 [2] to 69% in 2012 [3] and, most recently, to 100% in 2014 [4]. Our survey revealed that 21% of graduating fellows are not appearing for the pediatric pathology board examination. The graduating fellows who sat for the board examination did a commendable job of eventually obtaining the certification. However, the finding that 21% of graduates were not interested in obtaining board certification could be a source of concern. Being boardcertified positively affects a graduate’s employment prospects, and for the fellowship program, it provides an objective measure of its quality to the ACGME. In summary, the survey indicates that the outcomes of pediatric pathology fellowship programs suggest a successful endeavor, with the vast majority (86%) of the graduating fellows practicing pediatric pathology and 95% of the test-takers obtaining board certifications with the ABP. J e s s ic a C o m s t o c k

University of Utah Department of Pathology, Division of Pediatric Pathology, Located at Primary Children’s Medical Center, 100 N. Mario Capecchi Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84117, USA VlVEKANAND SlNGH

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA

REFERENCES 1. American Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). ACGME data resource book. Available at http://www.acgme.org/ acgmeweb/tabid/259/Publications/GraduateMedicalEducationData ResourceBook.aspx. Accessed August 20, 2014. 2. American Board of Pathology (ABP). 2010 ABP Examiner. Available at http://www.abpath.org/2010ABPExaminer.pdf. Ac­ cessed August 10, 2014.

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3. ABP. 2013 ABP Examiner. Available at http://www.abpath.org/ 2013ABPExaminer.pdf. Accessed August 10, 2014. 4. ABP. 2014 ABP Examiner. Available at http://www.abpath.org/20142ABPExaminer.pdf. Accessed February 17, 2015.

Published online March 3, 2015.

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Pediatric pathology fellowship graduates of ACGME-accredited programs: survey findings.

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