The ACC Training Outcomes Survey of recently trained cardiology fellows

In summary, the two ACC Training Outcomes Surveys performed in 1996 and 1998 indicate that the vast majority (98%) of cardiology trainees successfully obtain a posttraining position, although more than half of these fellows had difficult job searches. The mean time for completing a job search was six months. Women found jobs easier than men did, reporting a shorter time to obtain their positions and greater success finding jobs in desired locations. Slightly more than 50% of trainees have joined a cardiovascular group practice, with 19% accepting positions in academic cardiology. The latter percentage is down from the 1996 percentage. One of the most interesting findings in this survey is that a sizable number of fellows (46%) began fellowships with the intention of obtaining positions in academic cardiology, but more than half (56%) swithched their goal to a clinical practice during training. The most frequent reason for this switch from an academic to a clinical position was concern about security for the future. Mentoring of fellows appears to be improving, but more than 60% said they did not receive sufficient mentoring to assist them in selecting and searching for jobs. A large percentage of fellows surveyed wanted greater assistance from their training institutions and the ACC in a variety of areas pertaining to the process of securing a posttraining position. Starting salaries are slightly lower in 1998 than in 1196, but more respondents were satisfied with their geographical locations in 1998 than in 1996. Very few trainees entered the solo practice of cardiology. Perhaps the most striking finding in comparing the 1998 survey with the 1996 survey is how comparable were most of the responses. Little seems to have changed over the two years with respect to the difficulty of the job search, the length of time the search took, the factors that respondents took into consideration when evaluating positions, or the degree of success respondents had in meeting their expectations. There were also few changes in that type of practice setting or procedures performed. Overall, satisfaction expressed by the respondents with fellowship training is up slightly in 1998 from 1996 levels.