title: Infectious diseases subspecialty: declining demand challenges and opportunities.
abstract: Recent match results from the National Resident Matching Program for the subspecialty of infectious diseases show an ongoing decline in the number of fellowship positions filled, and, more important, in the number of applicants, particularly from the pool of international medical graduates. The main reasons for this declining application rate are unclear; in the absence of hard data, we present our viewpoint on this issue. Difficulties in securing visas for permanent residency in the United States, perception of a limited job market, and the explosive growth in the number of hospitalist positions may be important contributing factors. Infectious Diseases Society of America members need to focus on medical students and medical residents in their formative years. We present potential solutions to this problem of declining interest in the field of infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit.
authors.forename: Pranatharthi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chandrasekar
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Michigan State University School of Human Medicine, Lansing.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Havlichek
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, St John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Leonard B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D006801:Humans; D055552:Infectious Disease Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008511:Medicine; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: declining demand; fellowship; infectious diseases