Delaying the Fellowship Start Date in Obstetrics and Gynecology

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate residents planning fellowship, their preferences for fellowship start date, and the acceptability of resultant gaps in pay and insurance coverage. METHODS: A survey was conducted during the 2022 in-service training examination querying obstetrics and gynecology residents about their desire to pursue fellowship, their preferred fellowship start date (understanding the salary gap), and the acceptability of a medical insurance gap. RESULTS: Survey analysis of respondents planning to pursue fellowship demonstrated that, acknowledging the pay gap that would occur, 93.9% preferred a fellowship start date after July 1, with the majority (65.1%, 593/911) preferring an August 1 fellowship start date. Most respondents (87.7%, 798/910) found the potential resultant gap in medical insurance coverage acceptable. Survey data showed that racial and ethnic identity was not a determining factor in either of these issues. CONCLUSION: The majority of current residents planning to pursue fellowship prefer a delayed fellowship start date, even if it means a gap in salary and insurance coverage. The results of this study, requested by a specialty-wide, consensus-building workgroup, informed a statement signed by the majority (88.9%) of workgroup constituents supporting an August 1 clinical fellowship start date.

Automated summary

This study evaluated obstetrics and gynecology residents' preferences for fellowship start date, taking into account the pay and insurance coverage gaps. The survey results showed that 93.9% of residents preferred a fellowship start date after July 1, with 65.1% favoring an August 1 start date. The majority (87.7%) of residents found the potential gap in medical insurance coverage acceptable. Racial and ethnic identity did not play a role in these preferences.