Understanding Fellowship Leaders' Efforts to Recruit Diverse Fellows to Pediatric Subspecialties

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe 1) how program directors leverage data regarding applicants' race and ethnicity in the recruitment process; 2) program strategies to recruit a diverse fellowship class; and 3) perceived barriers and facilitators to the recruitment of a diverse fellowship class. METHODS: In collaboration with the Association of Pediatric Program Directors Subspecialty Pediatrics Investigator Network, we conducted a national survey of pediatric subspecialty fellowship program directors (FPDs). RESULTS: With 516 respondents, FPDs overwhelmingly agreed that diversity in subspecialty trainees is important and that it improves patient care. However, race and ethnicity were identified as a top factor influencing the rank list for fewer than 24% of respondents. FPDs employed several strategies to prioritize diversity in recruitment, but none were perceived as effective by more than 40% of respondents. The most prevalent facilitators for recruiting a diverse fellowship class were institutional culture and addressing diversity with applicants. Key barriers included the diversity of the applicant pool and institution's faculty. CONCLUSIONS: Diversity in pediatric subspecialty fellowship programs is important to FPDs and is thought to improve patient care. Although strategies are being utilized to recruit URIM fellows, FPDs give only modest ratings to their effectiveness.