Factors Influencing Career Choice of Allergy and Immunology Fellows-in-Training: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Program Directors Assembly Executive Committee.

BACKGROUND: As the burden of allergic and immunologic disease continues to increase, there is increased demand for a larger Allergy and Immunology (AI) subspecialty workforce. The field must prioritize the expansion of our workforce and the recruitment of exceptional and diverse trainees to ensure the vitality of the specialty. Although the AI fellowship match has traditionally been competitive, recent trends in fellowship applications have demonstrated fewer applicants per fellowship position. This trend has made recruitment a priority on the agenda of the national AI societies. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate key factors influencing the decision to choose the field of AI by querying fellows-in-training. METHODS: A survey was created and distributed yearly to fellows-in-training from 2017 to 2021 to identify factors influencing a career choice in AI. RESULTS: Approximately 59% of respondents rotated with AI in residency and 35% in both medical school and residency. Most respondents reported having a mentor in the field before fellowship, and many had their first exposures to AI during medical school (40%) or residency (32%). Most respondents decided to pursue AI during residency. The most common factors that influenced the decision to pursue AI were work/life balance, clinical aspects of the field, mentorship, and research opportunities. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the decision to pursue a career in AI often occurs during residency training and is motivated primarily by work/life balance, clinical aspects of the field, and clinician mentorship. Our survey results could provide guidance to AI training programs on strategies to recruit exceptional and diverse trainees.

Food allergy prevalence and management at an overnight summer camp.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, increased awareness of food allergy management has focused on the school setting. A lack of awareness and relevant literature prompted evaluation of the camp experience. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the prevalence of food allergies among children attending an overnight summer camp and to evaluate the knowledge and comfort of camp personnel before and after a training session. METHODS: The database for the 2014 season at Flying Horse Farms was reviewed for information pertaining to food allergies and provision of epinephrine and treatment plans. Camp personnel completed surveys regarding food allergy knowledge and comfort. Surveys were redistributed 30 days after the training session. RESULTS: Among 445 campers, 15% reported at least one food allergy, with 8.5% reporting allergy to 1 of the top 8 food allergens. Only 32% of campers with food allergy supplied an epinephrine autoinjector, and 0% provided written treatment plans. Before training, 84% of personnel desired additional information about food allergies. Knowledge of food allergies among personnel was high at baseline but increased after training in regard to epinephrine use for anaphylaxis and postepinephrine management. Staffers who reported feeling very comfortable caring for campers with food allergy increased from 16% to 46% after the training session; comfort in treating a food allergy emergency increased from 2% to 29%. CONCLUSION: Management of food allergies at overnight summer camps warrants similar education and preparation strategies as those implemented in schools. Camp personnel should receive annual training regarding food allergies and anaphylaxis.