Understanding the Factors that Determine a Fellow's Choice in Neonatal–Perinatal Medicine and How They Establish Their Rank List

Abstract

Objective Little is known about why neonatology fellows pick the fellowship program they do. Understanding why fellows choose neonatology and rank their programs would be of benefit to program leadership and to other applicants. Study Design This was a survey study sent to current neonatology fellows in the United States between September 2020 and October 2020, and were asked to rank their choices on a Likert scale. Respondents were also able to give free text responses to open-ended questions. Results The most important factor fellows state for choosing their program was location, with multiple reasons given. There were significant differences in how certain subgroups ranked programs. Conclusion Location of the fellowship program is the most important factor for fellows. There are differences within subgroups of fellows on how they rank their fellowship program. Fellowship directors can use this information to better inform selections on who to interview and how to rank fellows. Key Points