title: Training directors have positive perceptions of a competency-based gastroenterology and transplant hepatology fellowship program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 2012, the American Board of Internal Medicine approved a pilot competency-based transplant hepatology (TH) training program. This program allows gastroenterology (GI) and TH fellowships to be completed in 3 years. We investigated the perceptions and beliefs of GI and TH division and fellowship program directors on the competency-based TH training program.
  
  
  METHODS
  All current GI and TH division and fellowship program directors from the 162 fellowship programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education were invited via e-mail to anonymously complete the online survey. The survey questioned their perceptions of the 3-year combined GI and TH training program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 116 participants completed the survey (∼38% response rate). Most respondents were GI fellowship directors (61%); 15% were GI and hepatology division directors, 19% were TH fellowship directors, 14% were TH division directors, and 5% were GI division directors. Most of the respondents were in favor of the pilot program (85%). Only 63% of all respondents believed that graduates of the pilot program would achieve the same level of competency in GI as those who completed the traditional program. Overall, 71% believed incorporation of the 3-year training model would increase interest and participation in TH fellowships.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the academic GI and TH division and fellowship program directors embrace competency-based fellowship education and TH subspecialty training during the designated 3-year GI fellowship. Future studies will be needed to reevaluate these beliefs after several years.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: Dina.Halegoua-DeMarzio@jefferson.edu.
authors.forename: Dina L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Halegoua-De Marzio
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Steven K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Herrine
mesh_terms: D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D005260:Female; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians; D011361:Professional Competence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: ABIM; CBME; Gastroenterology Fellowship; Graduate Medical Education