%0 Journal Article
%T Improving Knowledge and Process for International Emergency Medicine Fellowship Applicants: A Call for a Uniform Application
%A Gabrielle A. Jacquet
%A Jamil D. Bayram
%A William B. Ewen
%A Bhakti Hansoti
%A Steven Andescavage
%A David Price
%A Robert E. Suter
%A Alexander Vu
%J Emergency Medicine International
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/737391
%X Background. There are currently 34 International Emergency Medicine (IEM) fellowship programs. Applicants and programs are increasing in number and diversity. Without a standardized application, applicants have a difficulty approaching programs in an informed and an organized method; a streamlined application system is necessary. Objectives. To measure fellows¡¯ knowledge of their programs¡¯ curricula prior to starting fellowship and to determine what percent of fellows and program directors would support a universal application system. Methods. A focus group of program directors, recent, and current fellows convened to determine the most important features of an IEM fellowship application process. A survey was administered electronically to a convenience sample of 78 participants from 34 programs. Respondents included fellowship directors, fellows, and recent graduates. Results. Most fellows (70%) did not know their program¡¯s curriculum prior to starting fellowship. The majority of program directors and fellows support a uniform application service (81% and 67%, resp.) and deadline (85% for both). A minority of program directors (35%) and fellows (30%) support a formal match. Conclusions. Program directors and fellows support a uniform application service and deadline, but not a formalized match. Forums for disseminating IEM fellowship information and for administering a uniform application service and deadline are currently in development to improve the process. 1. Introduction The field of emergency medicine (EM) as a recognized specialty continues to grow worldwide. As of 2010, over 60 nations have officially recognized EM as a specialty [1]. The global trend towards recognition of EM as a core specialty has created opportunities for emergency physicians to assess and develop fledgling academic EM practices on the world stage. Every year the number and diversity of International Emergency Medicine (IEM) fellowships in the USA multiply exponentially [2]. Since the first IEM fellowship program began in 1995, at University of Chicago at Illinois, the number of IEM fellowships has steadily risen to 34 currently active fellowship programs (Figure 1). Figure 1: Cumulative number of IEM fellowships over time. There are now even more specialized IEM fellowships focusing on pediatric IEM, global health leadership, and even international emergency ultrasound education. The increasing availability and diversity of IEM training programs has created a need for a more organized way to disseminate information about program curriculum and characteristics to
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/emi/2013/737391/