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Session includes invitee/speaker with CF. Others with CF encouraged to participate virtually.
Session includes invitee/speaker with CF. Others with CF encouraged to participate virtually.

Special Session

Overview of the Current State & Needs of the U.S. CF Physician Workforce

Saturday, September 28, 2024
7:45 AM - 9:45 AM ET
Location: 257 AB
The cystic fibrosis (CF) physician workforce necessarily includes different subspecialties given the multi-organ disease process, but has historically been primarily comprised of pulmonologists, and specifically pediatric providers. Major concerns exist about future shortages of pulmonologists, in part due to an aging cohort with 92% of pulmonary specialists aged 55 years or older (AAMC, 2021 data). In addition to nearing retirement, there are challenges attracting trainees into pulmonology fellowships, a growing clinical need, increased levels of burnout, and competition for focus between CF and other pulmonary disorders, and staffing.

Several barriers to academic success exist in both pediatric and adult pulmonology and throughout medicine. While physician-scientists have led current advances in CF, National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding has become more competitive, there are limited T32 training grants available, and funding has not proportionately matched the significant burden of pulmonary disease and associated healthcare costs. Increasing clinical demands compounded by a shrinking workforce have led to reduced time to develop research and mentorship. Burnout is increasingly recognized for its negative impacts and can influence career engagement of physicians and quality of patient care.

Finally, barriers to academic success are not experienced equally . Opportunities for promotion, representation in leadership positions, grant funding, and volume of first-author publications vary by gender and race/ethnicity.

A survey to characterize the current U.S. CF physician workforce demographics and describe their needs for and barriers to sustaining successful careers in CF care launched in in January 2024.

This session will review the current U.S. adult and pediatric pulmonology workforce and review findings from the recent CF workforce survey. Importantly, it will provide a space to interactively discuss opportunities for change with a panel of speakers and audience participation.

Learning Objectives:

  • Summarize the current state of the United States pediatric and adult pulmonology workforces.
  • Describe finding from the U.S. cystic fibrosis (CF) physician workforce survey.
  • Discuss opportunities for change and growth of the CF physician workforce during an interactive panel and audience discussion.