·S5 E107
#441 - Is Two Years Enough? Fellowship Directors Respond to the ABP’s Proposed Training Overhaul
Episode Description
The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) recently announced a move toward competency-based subspecialty training that would shorten fellowships — including neonatology — from three years to two. The proposal has sent shockwaves through the training community. In this episode, Daphna sits down with three leaders from the Organization of Neonatal Perinatal Training Program Directors (ONTPD): Dr. Patrick Myers from Northwestern, Dr. Heather French from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Dr. Melissa Scala from Stanford. Together, they break down what competency-based medical education actually means in practice, why the math simply doesn't add up when applied to neonatology, and what this could mean for procedural training, scholarly activity, fellow well-being, and ultimately patient care. They also address the workforce concerns driving the ABP's proposal, share survey data from program directors across the country, and offer concrete alternative pathways forward. The message from the field is clear: the community wants to innovate — but they want a seat at the table first.
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!