Extended Hematology-Oncology Fellowships in Bone Marrow Transplantation, Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma: What Proportion of Trainees Train and Remain at these Centers?

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionA number of extra fellowships after traditional hematology oncology training have started in recent years, including training in lymphoma, myeloma, bone marrow transplantation, and leukemia. The benefit of this additional training is disputed.Methods and MaterialsWe sought to quantify, from publicly reported data, what percentage of trainees either performed the extra year at the same location as they performed their fellowship– raising the question why they did not gain this training during the regular fellowship years– and what fraction stayed on at the same institution–raising the question of why the training was not performed on the job. Google and LinkedIn searches were performed to assemble the dataset.ResultsWe examined 6 programs that made their graduate information public. We found 30% (17/56) of fellows either trained at the same institution or remained at the same institution as their extra fellowship.ConclusionNearly 1 in 3 trainees that forgo an extra year do so in a context where they had opportunity to work at that center before or afterwards, raising the question as to whether the extra year was needed or could have been built into existing professional obligations.