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Global health training during neonatal fellowship: fellow and program director perspectives

Journal of Perinatology volume 40, pages 1253–1261 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

This study explored the availability and perception of Global Health (GH) training opportunities in US-based Neonatal–Perinatal Medicine (NPM) fellowship programs.

Study design

Electronic surveys, containing discrete choice and open-ended questions, were distributed to current and recent fellows and to Program Directors (PDs).

Results

Fifty-eight PDs and ninety-eight fellows completed the survey. Fellows reported declining GH participation from 48% in medical school to 21% in fellowship. Among the 42% of fellows reporting GH opportunities at their programs, 30% personally participated. Fewer than 30% of these programs offer structured classroom or online learning; 10% offer research opportunities. 72% of fellows stated that GH availability is moderately to extremely important, compared with 58% of PDs. PDs cited cost, scheduling, mentorship, and lack of suitable global partners as barriers to supporting fellows in GH.

Conclusion

NPM fellows place high importance on GH opportunities during fellowship, but only a minority engage in GH work.

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Fig. 1: Global health opportunities by stage of training.
Fig. 2: Summary of global health experiences for NPM fellows.
Fig. 3: Perceived importance of global health opportunities by role.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Sharla Rent & Stephanie Kukora

  2. Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Gregory Valentine

  3. University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA

    Danielle Ehret

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  1. Sharla Rent
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  2. Gregory Valentine
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  4. Stephanie Kukora
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Contributions

SR conceptualized the design of the study, aided in dissemination of the study to respondents, participated in statistical analysis of the data, and reviewed and revised the paper. GV helped design the disseminated survey, led the website data analysis, and reviewed and revised the paper. DE helped design the disseminated survey, provided expert input on survey results, and reviewed and revised the paper. SK helped design the disseminated survey, provided expert input on survey results, and reviewed and revised the paper. All authors approved the final paper as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Sharla Rent.

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Rent, S., Valentine, G., Ehret, D. et al. Global health training during neonatal fellowship: fellow and program director perspectives. J Perinatol 40, 1253–1261 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0639-8

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