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. 2014 Dec 1;59(11):1593-8.
doi: 10.1093/cid/ciu656. Epub 2014 Aug 22.

Infectious diseases subspecialty: declining demand challenges and opportunities

Pranatharthi Chandrasekar  1 , Daniel Havlichek  2 , Leonard B Johnson  3
Affiliations

Infectious diseases subspecialty: declining demand challenges and opportunities

Pranatharthi Chandrasekar et al. Clin Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Recent match results from the National Resident Matching Program for the subspecialty of infectious diseases show an ongoing decline in the number of fellowship positions filled, and, more important, in the number of applicants, particularly from the pool of international medical graduates. The main reasons for this declining application rate are unclear; in the absence of hard data, we present our viewpoint on this issue. Difficulties in securing visas for permanent residency in the United States, perception of a limited job market, and the explosive growth in the number of hospitalist positions may be important contributing factors. Infectious Diseases Society of America members need to focus on medical students and medical residents in their formative years. We present potential solutions to this problem of declining interest in the field of infectious diseases.

Keywords: declining demand; fellowship; infectious diseases.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Medical subspecialties: number of unfilled fellowship programs/total number of programs in 2010 and 2014.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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