title: An analysis of the medical specialty training system in Spain.
abstract: In this paper, we analyse the medical specialty training system in Spain (the so-called "residency system"). In order to do so, we a) summarize its historical evolution; b) describe the five major architectural pillars on which the system is currently based; c) analyse the special contract of the specialist-in-training; d) discuss the three major challenges for the medical specialist training future: the evolution and expansion of the residency system to other health professions, the issue of grouping specialties with a common core trunk and the continuity of the learning process; and e) draw four conclusions that may be relevant for those who are in the process of developing or revising their own medical specialization systems.
authors.affiliation: National School of Public Health/Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. jmfreire@isciii.es.
authors.forename: José-Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.affiliation: National School of Public Health/Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. ainfante@externos.isciii.es.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Infante
authors.affiliation: Institute for Communication and Information in Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation; Social Medicine Institute, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. adriana.aguiar@post.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Adriana Cavalcanti
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Aguiar
authors.affiliation: Ministry for Health, Social Affairs and Equality, Madrid, Spain. pcarbajo@msssi.es.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carbajo
mesh_terms: D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008511:Medicine; D013030:Spain; D013038:Specialization