This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(November 2016) |
Afellowshipis the period ofmedical training,in the United States and Canada, that aphysician,dentist,orveterinarianmay undertake after completing aspecialty training program (residency).During this time (usually more than one year), the physician is known as afellow.Fellows are capable of acting as anattending physicianor aconsultant physicianin the specialist field in which they were trained, such asinternal medicineorpediatrics.After completing a fellowship in the relevant sub-specialty, the physician is permitted to practice without direct supervision by other physicians in that sub-specialty, such ascardiologyoroncology.
United States
editIn the US, the majority of fellowships are accredited by theAccreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education( "ACGME" ) or, to a lesser extent, theAmerican Board of Physician Specialtiesin select states. There are fellowship programs that are not ACGME accredited, yet are well received, given the importance of being a Board-Certified Physician in a primary specialty, where a Fellowship is often more based on demand and research productivity.[1]
Requirements
editIn general, ACGME accredited programs require completion of ACGME-accredited, RCPSC-accredited or CFPC- accredited residency program, however, exceptions for an ACGME-International- accredited residency programs and non-ACGME-accredited residency programs are possible.[2]International medical graduates must be ECFMG certified. Some fellowship specialties require participation in special matching programs like Specialties Matching Service® (SMS®) or SF Match.[3]
Combined fellowships
editThere are a number of programs offering a combined fellowship, training in two or more sub-specialties as part of a single program.
- Pulmonary/Critical Care:this type of program is more common than Pulmonary Disease (non-combination) programs. As of 2007, there were 130 ACGME-accredited combined Pulmonary/Critical Care programs while only 25 programs for Pulmonary Disease alone.
- Hematology/Oncology:as of 2005, there were 125 ACGME-accredited programs for Hematology-Oncology, while only 12 programs for Hematology alone and 18 for Oncology alone.
- Geriatrics/Oncology:the American Board of Internal Medicine approved a 3-year combined fellowship training program in medical oncology and geriatrics. The John A. Hartford Foundation initially funded 10 institutions for this type of training.