Episode Details
Back to Episodes#438 - 🔵 [PAS 2026] - Should Neonatology Fellowship Be Shortened to Two Years? (ft. Dr. Christa Matrone)
Description
Dr. Christa Matrone, neonatologist and program director at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Florida, joins Ben and Daphna for a candid conversation about one of the most consequential announcements to hit neonatology training in years. She breaks down the American Board of Pediatrics proposal to create an optional two-year clinical training pathway for all pediatric subspecialties — including neonatology — starting as early as 2028, and explains why the neonatology community was largely caught off guard. She shares her nuanced perspective as a program director at one of the highest-volume units in the country, acknowledging both the potential benefits of a shorter clinical pathway and the serious concerns around clinical readiness, trainee wellbeing, and the future pipeline of physician scientists. She also calls on trainees and practicing neonatologists alike to make their voices heard before this conversation moves any further without them.
As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below.
Enjoy!