A survey on the graduates from the combined emergency medicine/pediatric residency programs

Abstract 

The guidelines for dual training in Emergency Medicine (EM) and Pediatrics over a 5-year program have long existed. Many have questioned the benefit of such training in relation to either specialty and in relation to Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) sub-specialty training. We report on the professional outcome, career focus, and job satisfaction of these graduates. Surveys were returned from 91% (n = 29) of graduates, all of whom reported completing either of the two combined training programs. All respondents reported practicing in an emergency medicine setting either with or without an additional pediatric emphasis. Fifty-nine percent reported an academic EM affiliation. Almost all (96.5%) would choose to repeat combined training and all reported they would recommend the combined program to medical students interested in Pediatrics and EM. Combined graduates report a high level of satisfaction with their training and overwhelmingly would recommend such training to medical students. Combined graduates seem to universally work in an ED setting, although a number maintain their pediatric involvement. Over half of the graduates participate in academic EM.

Keywords: Residency training, physician careers, emergency medicine, pediatrics, combined residency training