title: Qualities and characteristics of successfully matched North American HPB surgery fellowship candidates.
abstract: Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) fellowships in North America are difficult to secure with an acceptance rate of 1 in 3 applicants. Desirable characteristics in an HPB surgery applicant have not been previously reported. This study examines the perceptions of trainees and HPB program directors with regards to positive attributes in applicants for HPB fellowships.
  
  
  
  Parallel surveys were distributed by email with a web-link to current and recent HPB fellows in North America (from the past 5 years) with questions addressing the following domains: surgical training, research experience, and mentorship. A similar survey was distributed to HPB fellowship program directors in North America requesting their opinion as to the importance of these characteristics in potential applicants.
  
  
  
  32 of 60 of surveyed fellows and 21 of 38 of surveyed program directors responded between November 2014-February 2015. Fellows overall came from fairly diverse backgrounds (13/32 were overseas medical graduates) about one third of respondents having had some prior research experience. Program directors gave priority to the applicant's interview, curriculum vitae, and their recommendation letters (in order of importance). Both the surveyed fellows and program directors felt that the characteristics most important in a successful HPB fellowship candidate include interpersonal skills, perceived operative skills, and perceived fund of knowledge.
  
  
  
  Results of this survey provide useful and practical information for trainees considering applying to an HPB fellowship program.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Erin H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Jacob E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dowden
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Allyson R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Iannitti
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Eric T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Kimchi
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Staveley-O'Carroll
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Methodist Hospital, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address: rohanjeyarajah@gmail.com.
authors.forename: D Rohan
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Jeyarajah
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004522:Educational Status; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America; D010560:Personnel Selection; D066107:Social Skills; D066231:Surgeons / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires