title: A Survey of Graduates of Combined Emergency Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Programs: An Update.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 1998, emergency medicine-pediatrics (EM-PEDS) graduates were no longer eligible for the pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) sub-board certification examination. There is a paucity of guidance regarding the various training options for medical students who are interested in PEM.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to to determine attitudes and personal satisfaction of graduates from EM-PEDS combined training programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 71 graduates from three EM-PEDS residences in the United States.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All respondents consider their combined training to be an asset when seeking a job, 92% find it to be an asset to their career, and 88% think it provided added flexibility to job searches. The most commonly reported shortcoming was their ineligibility for the PEM sub-board certification. The lack of this designation was perceived to be a detriment to securing academic positions in dedicated children's hospitals. When surveyed regarding which training offers the better skill set for the practice of PEM, 90% (44/49) stated combined EM-PEDS training. When asked which training track gives them the better professional advancement in PEM, 52% (23/44) chose combined EM-PEDS residency, 27% (12/44) chose a pediatrics residency followed by a PEM fellowship, and 25% (11/44) chose an EM residency then a PEM fellowship. No EM-PEDS respondents considered PEM fellowship training after the completion of the dual training program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EM-PEDS graduates found combined training to be an asset in their career. They felt that it provided flexibility in job searches, and that it was ideal training for the skill set required for the practice of PEM. EM-PEDS graduates' practices varied, including mixed settings, free-standing children's hospitals, and community emergency departments.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors: Ashley M
authors: AM
authors: Strobel
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors: Rose M
authors: RM
authors: Chasm
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona.
authors: Dale P
authors: DP
authors: Woolridge
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D002568:Certification; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: ACGME; combined residency; emergency medicine residency; emergency medicine–pediatrics combined residency; fellowship; pediatric emergency medicine; pediatrics residency; postgraduate training