Research Exposure and Training Among Pediatric Cardiology Fellows in the United States

Introduction: Pediatric cardiology fellowship programs in the United States (U.S.) follow the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) guidelines, requiring scholarly activities for completion. However, detailed data on research experiences within these programs are scarce. This study sought to describe the state of research training and exposure in U.S. pediatric cardiology fellowship programs. Methods An electronic survey was sent to 350 pediatric cardiology fellows across the U.S. The survey assessed demographics, availability of research training resources, perceived barriers to research, expected research output, and satisfaction with research exposure. Fellowship programs were classified by size: small (1–5 fellows), medium (6–9 fellows), and large (10 + fellows). Statistical analyses included comparisons and logistic regression. Results Most respondents (89%) agreed with the statement: “I have been encouraged to pursue research training and experiences during my fellowship.” However, only 31% agreed with the statement: “I am satisfied with the training on research methodology and statistics provided by my fellowship program.” Commonly endorsed barriers to completing research projects included lack of statistical support (37%), lack of protected time for faculty to support fellow research (56%), lack of a formal research curriculum (38%), and lack of funding for fellow research (26%). Research training and experiences differed by program size, with larger programs providing more protected time and greater encouragement for research, while smaller programs were more likely to rely on online resources. Conclusion Despite strong encouragement for research, satisfaction with research training in pediatric cardiology fellowship programs is limited. Addressing barriers such as statistical support, protected faculty time, and formal research curricula could enhance the research experience and outcomes for fellows.