An anonymous survey of psychosomatic medicine fellowship directors regarding breaches of contracts and a proposal for prevention.
OBJECTIVE
The authors studied how often applicants accept positions at more than one program, or programs offer positions to applicants who have already signed contracts with other programs.


METHODS
An anonymous survey was distributed to all psychosomatic medicine fellowship program directors.


RESULTS
It is fairly common for applicants to sign contracts for fellowship positions and then back out of the contracts. Only one program reported ever knowingly offering a contract to an applicant who had accepted a position elsewhere. Programs are divided over whether there are extenuating circumstances under which it would be acceptable to offer a position to an applicant who has already signed a contract with another program.


CONCLUSIONS
Guidelines for fellowship programs that do not use the National Resident Match Program can improve the recruitment process.
Levenson
James L
JL
Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980268, Richmond, VA 23298. USA. jlevenson@mcvh-vcu.edu
Bialer
Philip
P
D002755:Choice Behavior; D032982:Contracts; D004493:Education; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008486:Physician Executives; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires