American Board of Pediatrics Proposes Changes to Pediatric Fellowship Training Amid Workforce Shortages
The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) has announced a significant shift in pediatric fellowship training to address the growing shortage of pediatric subspecialists in the United States. Currently, the pathway to becoming a pediatric subspecialist involves a lengthy six-year training period, which includes both residency and fellowship. This extended duration, coupled with relatively low salaries, has been a deterrent for medical students considering this career path. In response, the ABP is moving towards a competency-based medical education (CBME) model, which will reduce the fellowship training duration to a two-year clinical track option. This change is expected to be implemented by 2028. Additionally, an alternative proposal suggests a five-year training model with a two-year residency and a three-year fellowship for procedural-based subspecialties such as neonatal-perinatal medicine and pediatric critical care medicine. 
