Allergy and immunology interest and exposure among US medical students and residents

BACKGROUND: Despite the immense burden of allergic disease, the allergy and immunology (AI) workforce in the United States continues to shrink. Fellowship applications for AI have declined sharply in contrast to those in more popular specialties. OBJECTIVES: Here we have sought to evaluate the current level of AI interest and exposure among early trainees in the United States, as well as their perspective on how to improve interest in the field. METHODS: An 18-item questionnaire was sent via e-mail list-serve to 2 groups: (1) mostly residents in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) with interest in AI and (2) medical students in the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) whose specialty interests were not known. RESULTS: In the AAAAI group, 412 members were surveyed and 70 responses were received. In the AMSA group, 4778 members were surveyed and 47 responses were received. More individuals in the AAAAI group interacted with their AI division than in the AMSA group (73% vs 19% [P < .001]). On average, the AAAAI group would “probably” pursue AI whereas the AMSA group who would “definitely not” do so (P < .001). Almost all of the AMSA group (94%) had heard of AI before, but only 19% of them interacted with AI at their program. Regarding ways to increase interest in AI, the top responses for both groups were clinical exposure via electives and shadowing (a score of 4.69 on a 5-point scale) and didactic exposure via lectures and presentations (a score of 4.29). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that increasing AI opportunities for didactics and clinical exposure may lead medical students to develop more interest in pursuing the field. Some strategies are also discussed.