From the article: (Nit: they could have used some charts here.) [...]
From the article:
The decline in applicants for [Infectious Disease] fellowships this year is particularly notable because in the first two pandemic-era rounds, the field saw a spike in interest — a trend experienced in other public-health-related fields that was dubbed the “Fauci effect.” The critical nature of public health careers was never clearer than during the pandemic, and educators said they saw a wave of people drawing inspiration from that.
Just looking at the percentages of ID programs and positions that are unfilled doesn’t tell the full story of the specialty’s status. In recent years, institutions have expanded fellowships, going from 394 positions at 151 programs in the 2018 cycle to 441 slots at 175 programs in this most recent 2023 match. It’s led to some debate about whether programs have grown too quickly, but regardless, without a commensurate rise in applicants, a greater percentage of positions are going unfilled.
But even with raw numbers, there was a noticeable drop in interest this go-round.
Roughly 350 residents applied to ID fellowships each cycle from 2018 to 2020 (residents apply to fellowships the prior year before starting in the summer). Then, for the 2021 round, the number shot up to 404, dipping slightly to 387 for the 2022 match. For the 2023 match, only 330 doctors applied.
(Nit: they could have used some charts here.)
[...]
ID physicians earn a lot less than specialists like cardiologists who spend their days performing highly lucrative procedures. Other comparatively low-paying fields like geriatrics also struggle to fill their fellowship positions, versus specialties like oncology or gastroenterology. For students carrying massive amounts of debt from college and medical school, salaries can steer their career paths.
From the article:
(Nit: they could have used some charts here.)
[...]