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Williams et al. Neurology fellowship

Neural Repair and Rehabilitation (2010) [Table 1]. Accredited United States and international programs
[1]
There are also a number of subspecialties (Movement must verify their statistics and update them yearly.
Disorders, Neurohospitalist) which are not accredited UCNS specialties and subspecialties data were
by either the ACGME or UCNS. [2,3] obtained from their website. We analyzed these
[11]
yearly reports focusing on the changes taking place
Over 2,200 graduating medical students matched not only in the number of programs and residents, but
in Neurology Residencies in 2014. If current trends also individual breakdowns by gender, specialty, and
persist, the majority will seek additional subspecialty program.
training and certification. [4-6] The establishment and
existence of these numerous subspecialties may RESULTS
not only be reflective of, but may also help drive the
subspecialization of neurologists. There is interest In alignment with the increasing number of physicians
[1]
in providing earlier subspecialty exposure to grow pursuing careers in neurology, the number of programs
the number of trainees pursuing training in specific for neurology subspecialty fellowship training has
subspecialties. There are also ongoing efforts to shown a steady increase over the course of the past
[7]
augment residents abilities and interest in pursuing thirteen years. The increase in the number of specific
careers in academic medicine, many of which include subspecialty fellowship programs is mirrored by an
[8]
subspecialty training in neurology fellowships. All of increase in fellows enrolling in training programs in
this is occurring within the context of changes in the
healthcare environment and their subsequent effect on those subspecialties. The number of overall fellows per
neurology resident education. [9] program has remained fairly steady. This is indicative
of subspecialty training programs remaining a
Our study attempts to provide a comprehensive relatively stable size. The largest increases each year
descriptive overview of the current state as well as in total number of training programs is found in Child
a clear and easily understandable picture of the Neurology, Neuromuscular Medicine, and Vascular
trends in Neurology graduate education training. An Neurology. Child Neurology has shown a 175%
understanding of the current and future workforce in increase during the 13-year period of the study with an
Neurology will be essential for the estimation of future average increase of 13.46% each year. Neuromuscular
geographic and specialty skill surpluses and deficits Medicine, having only been accredited for 9 years,
in the workforce. This understanding will be of value has also shown rapid growth, increasing 600% over
in the decision making regarding how to best address the 9 years of its accreditation, averaging a 66.67%
those deficits. increase each year. Vascular Neurology, having been
accredited for 11 years, has grown 860%, averaging
METHODS 78.18% more fellows each year. Interestingly, while
all 3 subspecialties have shown dramatic increases
Data was collected from the 2001-2002 to 2013- in fellows, the changes in their respective number of
2014 editions of the ACGME Data Resource Book. programs have differing trends. Child Neurology has
[10]
Table 1: Accredited neurology fellowships
Subspecialty Year approved Accrediting body
Child Neurology 1934 ABPN
Clinical Neurophysiology 1989 ABPN
Pain Medicine 1998 ABPN
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities 1999 ABPN
Vascular Neurology 2003 ABPN
Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry 2004 UCNS
Neuromuscular Medicine 2005 ABPN
Sleep Medicine 2005 ABPN
Clinical Neuromuscular Pathology 2005 UCNS
Headache Medicine 2005 UCNS
Neuro-Oncology 2005 UCNS
Neuroimaging 2005 UCNS
Neurocritical Care 2005 UCNS
Hospice and Palliative Care 2006 ABPN
Autonomic Disorders 2007 UCNS
Geriatric Neurology 2007 UCNS
Neural Repair and Rehabilitation 2010 UCNS
Epilepsy 2011 ABPN
Brain Injury Medicine 2011 ABPN
ABPN: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; UCNS: United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties
66 Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation ¦ Volume 4 ¦ April 18, 2017