Brain injury medicine fellowship program growth and application rates: 2017 to 2024.

BACKGROUND

The American Board of Medical Specialties recognized brain injury medicine (BIM) as a subspecialty certification for physicians from diverse training backgrounds. Increasing the number of physicians pursuing BIM fellowship training remains imperative given the increasing prevalence of patients with traumatic brain injuries.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of BIM fellowship applicants from 2017 to 2024. The annual volume of available training positions, applications, match rates, and unfilled training positions were calculated.

RESULTS

The annual volume of BIM training programs (16 to 26, 63% increase), training positions (17 to 31, 82% increase), and applicants (16 to 26, 63% increase) increased over the study period (p < 0.001). The annual applicant-to-training position ratio ranged between 0.7-1.2 with no significant change over the study period (p = 0.598). In total, there were 198 available training positions and 39 went unfilled (20%). The rate of unfilled training positions (12% to 16%, p = 0.601) and annual match rates (94%-100%, p = 0.958) did not change. Most applicants matched at their first-choice (45%) or second-choice (16%) fellowship programs.

CONCLUSIONS

There were 198 BIM fellowship positions available over the study period and 39 went unfilled (20%). Coordinated efforts may stimulate earlier physician interest in BIM training to meet future demands.