Any point doing non AUPO

[neuronerd12]

Any point in doing non AUPO accredited university program clinical fellowship?

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[Visionary]

Any point in doing non AUPO accredited university program clinical fellowship?

Better question is: any point in doing an AUPO accredited fellowship? My understanding is that AUPO accreditation is still in it's relative infancy. Don't know that it counts for much currently.

 

[neuronerd12]

Thanks! I didn't know that. So what is the verdict guys? Better than doing basic research I suppose. I am still in my home country, just planning in advance for next year. Thanks for replies. Are clinical fellowships (accredited or non-accredited) relatively easy to get? Thanks for your replies

 

[Visionary]

My point was that I don't see a reason, currently, to worry about whether a fellowship is AUPO accredited or not. It just doesn't count for much, at this time. My understanding from your past posts is that you're a resident in Sri Lanka and want to pursue a US fellowship, yes? What type of fellowship are you looking for? I'll tell you that as a FMG, you'll have a tougher time in general, but that may be exacerbated if you seek a competitive fellowship, such as retina.

 

[MstaKing10]

AUPO certification counts for something, albeit, not a whole lot. There are some basic qualifications that AUPO fellowships have to adhere to including access to facilities, faculty and program director duties and minimum standards, research time, access to lectures/grand rounds, journal club etc. While minimal, these basics lay a good groundwork to assure both clinical and academic minimum standards are met. Non AUPO certified fellowships may also adhere to such standards, but less likely. The main issue is that these standards are minimal and sometimes non-specific, and entirely self reported.

In any case, this is kind of off topic. I think there are very good non-AUPO certified fellowships worth exploring.

 

[Visionary]

AUPO certification counts for something, albeit, not a whole lot. There are some basic qualifications that AUPO fellowships have to adhere to including access to facilities, faculty and program director duties and minimum standards, research time, access to lectures/grand rounds, journal club etc. While minimal, these basics lay a good groundwork to assure both clinical and academic minimum standards are met. Non AUPO certified fellowships may also adhere to such standards, but less likely. The main issue is that these standards are minimal and sometimes non-specific, and entirely self reported.

In any case, this is kind of off topic. I think there are very good non-AUPO certified fellowships worth exploring.

My understanding is that the AUPO "stamp of approval" also costs money, and not everyone is willing to buy in. Two ways to view it: 1) an organization trying to standardize fellowship training to the benefit of all; 2) an organization trying to make their fellowships seem superior in the eyes of applicants. Not saying which is correct.

 

[MR1]

Yeah AUPO is just a way to "standardize" fellowships and is voluntary currently. It is similar to the ACGME for residency. So yes a AUPO fellowship probably is meeting all those standards layed out but that doesn't mean the ones that aren't AUPO certified aren't as well. At the moment it isn't like not being ACGME certified for residency

I think the main issue fellowships have with this is that we (fellows) wont' be allowed to be "instructors" and bill, take primary trauma call, etc. Which I understand this worry.

 

[Visionary]

Yeah AUPO is just a way to "standardize" fellowships and is voluntary currently. It is similar to the ACGME for residency. So yes a AUPO fellowship probably is meeting all those standards layed out but that doesn't mean the ones that aren't AUPO certified aren't as well. At the moment it isn't like not being ACGME certified for residency

I think the main issue fellowships have with this is that we (fellows) wont' be allowed to be "instructors" and bill, take primary trauma call, etc. Which I understand this worry.

Yeah, I remember that coming up, but I don't know the details. Something about a fellow under the new system being considered still in training (like an advanced resident) and therefore unable to bill for services. That would hurt. Where I trained, all call was covered by fellows. Faculty rarely had to do anything.

 

[neuronerd12]

Very good discussion. I am interested in Neuro-ophth but I am not sure. Because there is no practice (not in my country), may be I'll try retina. I know it is competitive and requires USMLE. I am also still thinking about repeating residency and then doing a fellowship. But that is a long road with very little chance (if any) of success and also I have to read anatomy physiology again which I have little interest of doing. Exams are expensive too, from what I've heard. Not sure, still thinking about the whole venture. Thanks for all your replies.