How Pediatric Urology Fellowships in the United States are Funded

BACKGROUND We desired to discover how pediatric urology fellowship positions in the United States were funded. METHODS Approved pediatric urology fellowship directors (25) were contacted by e-mail and asked how the 2 years of fellowship were funded at their institutions. RESULTS The response rate of the e-mail questions was 100%. The clinical year of the fellowship was 100% hospital-funded in 88% of the 25 fellowships. The second, American board of urology (ABU)-required year was 100% hospital-funded in only 44% of the fellowships. Clinical funds generated by pediatric urology faculty provided funding for 24% of the fellows and institutes and grants funded 20% of the fellowship positions for the second year. Thirty-two percent of the fellowship positions have supplemental funding through charges generated from the fellow's clinical activities in patient care. CONCLUSION All but three hospitals fund 100% of the clinical year of pediatric urology fellowship. Sources of funding for the second, ABU-required year vary widely among fellowship programs in the United States.