title: Training the next generation's nephrology workforce.
abstract: The subspecialty of nephrology faces several critical challenges, including declining interest among medical students and internal medicine residents and worrisome declines in the number of applicants for nephrology fellowships. There is an urgent need to more clearly define the subspecialty and its scope of practice, reinvigorate meaningful research training and activities among trainees, and ensure that fellows who complete training and enter the practice of nephrology are experts in the broad scope of nephrology. This need requires a critical look at fellowship training programs and training requirements. A new workforce analysis is also needed that is not focused on primarily meeting estimated future clinical needs but rather, ensuring that there is alignment of supply and demand for nephrology trainees, which will ensure that those entering nephrology fellowships are highly qualified and capable of becoming outstanding nephrologists and that there are desirable employment opportunities for them when they complete their training.
authors: Renal, Electrolyte, and Hypertension Division, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; bernsj@uphs.upenn.edu.
authors: Jeffrey S
authors: JS
authors: Berns
authors: Division of Nephrology, Oregon Health and Science University and Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon;
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Ellison
authors: Division of Nephrology, University of Colorado, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado; and.
authors: Stuart L
authors: SL
authors: Linas
authors: Division of Nephrology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors: Mitchell H
authors: MH
authors: Rosner
mesh_terms: D005544:Forecasting; D009398:Nephrology / Q000193:education* / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: competence; fellowship; training program; workforce