Assessing Trends in Fellowship Training Among Otolaryngology Residents: A National Survey Study

Abstract

Objective To summarize trends in otolaryngology fellowship applications, fellowships selected, and reasons for pursuing a fellowship. Study Design One-page anonymous questionnaire. Setting A survey was completed by examinees at the conclusion of their American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery oral examination from 2011 to 2019. Methods Data included age, gender, fellowship type, reasons for doing a fellowship, and type of practice that examinees will enter. Spearman correlation and Pearson chi-square tests were completed. Results Over the 8-year study, 58% of the 2243 responding examinees did fellowships. The most frequently chosen fellowship was facial plastic surgery (25%), followed by pediatric otolaryngology (21%), head and neck surgery (19%), rhinology (13%), laryngology (9%), and neurotology (8%). The 2 most common reasons for doing a fellowship were desire for additional expertise beyond residency training (35%) and intellectual appeal (30%). Over the study period, the number of residents choosing to do a fellowship increased from 45.6% in 2011 to 61.5% in 2019, with a positive correlation between year and number of residents ( r = 0.73, P = .036). When the data were stratified by gender, there were statistically significant differences in fellowship selection ( P < .001), notably with women selecting pediatric otolaryngology at a higher frequency than men (30.9% vs 15.8%). Conclusion There is a statistically significant increasing trend of otolaryngology residents who choose to undergo further training in fellowship. These data from a large, long-term study will be valuable in planning for training and workforce needs in the future.