Current positions of graduates of internal medicine-pediatrics training programs
H. Schubiner, C. Lannon and L. Manfred
Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine what positions graduates of internal
medicine-pediatrics programs currently hold. DESIGN: A survey of the
program directors of residencies in internal medicine-pediatrics.
PARTICIPANTS: Program directors of the 85 internal medicine-pediatrics
training programs listed in the 1993-1994 Graduate Medical Education
Directory. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A 1-page survey that described the
current positions of trainees graduating between 1987 and 1993. RESULTS:
Seventy-four (87%) of the 85 program directors completed the survey. Of the
708 graduates reported on, 68% were practicing as generalists. The
generalists of this cohort (n = 480) were primarily in private practice
settings (n = 390, 81%) and most were practicing internal
medicine-pediatrics (n = 416, 85%). Only 12% of the generalists had chosen
to practice either pediatrics or internal medicine. Twenty-one percent of
the total graduates had entered subspecialty training. CONCLUSIONS: To our
knowledge, the sample of 708 graduates is the largest survey of graduates
of internal medicine-pediatrics programs to date and shows that 68% of
graduates are practicing in primary care fields. Graduates of internal
medicine-pediatrics programs should be considered as an important source of
primary care physicians.
