Survey study reveals high overall satisfaction alongside gaps in advanced surgical and research training in US rhinology fellows, highlighting areas for curriculum refinement.
Key Points
To assess contemporary motivations, procedural expectations, and career outcomes among United States rhinology fellows over a 7-year timeframe.
Administered prospective and retrospective surveys to incoming and outgoing fellows at US rhinology fellowship programs from 2018 to 2025 (N = 241; 124 incoming, 117 outgoing).
Evaluated motivations, procedural comfort, research expectations, career plans, and program satisfaction using descriptive statistical analyses.
Overall satisfaction was high, with 86.3% of outgoing fellows reporting that fellowship training met expectations, motivated primarily by enhancing surgical technique and clinical decision-making.
Graduating fellows expressed high confidence in standard endoscopic sinus procedures but lower comfort with advanced skull base surgery and rhinoplasty.
Between 16% and 45% of graduating fellows reported receiving no protected research time, and while 71.8% anticipated academic careers, 64.1% entered academic practice.