Abstract Rationale Accrediting bodies provide little guidance on the optimal depth of pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) knowledge expected of pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) fellows. Amidst increasing subspecialization within medicine, PVD education must be balanced with other competencies required for independent practice. We aimed to establish expert consensus on essential PVD learning objectives that should be achieved by all PCCM fellows by completion of their general fellowship training, versus those more appropriate for advanced subspecialty training in PVD. Methods We conducted a modified Delphi study engaging national experts in either PVD or medical education. PVD experts were defined as pulmonary-trained medical directors of pulmonary hypertension (PH) centers or program directors of dedicated PVD fellowships. Medical education experts were defined as Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education-accredited PCCM fellowship program directors. Experts were identified via online searches and professional databases; 100 were randomly selected (50 per group) and invited via email. Based on literature review and iterative refinement by experts in PVD (CK, ASW) and medical education (AS, AMA, MMH), we developed a comprehensive list of PVD-specific learning objectives for the Round 1 survey, administered anonymously using Qualtrics. Respondents rated each item for two trainee groups - general PCCM fellows and advanced PVD fellows - using a 3-point Likert scale: Essential, Important, or Neither (neither important nor essential). Consensus was defined as 70% agreement, with two to four rounds planned. Results Round 1 was completed in October 2025 by 30 experts (7 medical education, 23 PVD). 7 (23.3%) self-identified primarily as educators, 4 (13.3%) as PVD specialists, and 19 (63.3%) as both. Most practiced at academic medical centers (28 93.3%) and had 10 years of attending experience (22 73.3%). Round 1 included 74 learning objectives, across domains of PH physiology and diagnosis, management, other PVD, and procedures. For general PCCM fellows, 32 achieved consensus (17 Essential, 8 Important, 7 Neither). For advanced PVD fellows, 64 achieved consensus (62 Essential, 2 Neither). Given the ongoing Delphi process, specific objectives reaching consensus will be reported following study completion. Conclusion This ongoing modified Delphi study to define learning objectives in PVD has reached national consensus on 32 learning objectives for general PCCM fellows and 64 for advanced PVD fellows. Additional consensus is anticipated through subsequent rounds, with final analysis expected in January 2026. These findings will guide curriculum development and inform national standards for PVD education across general and advanced fellowships. This abstract is funded by: None
Mcnamara et al. (Fri,) studied this question.