Educational program

Scope and duration of training

Fellowships are first and foremost teaching-learning programs. The environment, content, and structure of the fellowship program should foster and protect fundamental objectives of fellow learning, professional socialization, and faculty growth. Fellowship programs should include both clinical and investigative training in order to ensure the educational advancement of the individual.

- Subspecialty training programs should be from 12 to 24 months in duration, beginning after satisfactory completion of a core residency program.

- A minimum of 75% of the training should be clinical with the remaining time spent in either basic science or clinical research activities relevant to the subspecialty.

- All fellow assignments must relate directly or indirectly to the subspecialty.

- The schedule template should allow modification as appropriate to match the needs and developing interests of the fellow and the requirements as set forth by the fellowship director.

ACGME Program Information Forms (PIFs) for various areas of concentration or subspecialties may serve as a template. Related PIFs can be found at www.acgme.org/acWebsite/RRC_340/340_pifIndex.asp.

The ABPMR Program Director’s Guide (reference #4, see end of document) offers a calendar of activities for program directors, as well as fellow evaluation guidelines and other helpful, program-related information. Though the ABPMR guide outlines requirements for ACGME-accredited programs, it offers a useful benchmark against which to assess and develop a non-accredited program.

Documentation is critical to establishing and maintaining a successful fellowship. It should be the policy of the program that all formal meetings between the program director and fellows be documented. We suggest that a brief summary of each meeting be generated and signed by both the director and the fellow. Each lecture, Grand Rounds, Journal Club, etc., should be similarly documented. Establishing these standards will help to ensure the success of the program and will facilitate the transition to an accredited program over time, should this process be initiated.

Copyright ©2005 PASSOR

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