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Pediatric subspecialty workforce: what is needed to secure its vitality and survival?

Pediatric Research volume 97, pages 2208–2214 (2025)Cite this article

Impact

  • The pediatric subspecialty workforce is challenged by shortages and geographic maldistribution of subspecialists. We invited leaders in pediatrics to discuss how the field’s vitality and survival can be secured. These leaders presented their own opinions and not the opinion of the society or organization that they are presenting. Early exposure of future trainees to pediatrics and advocacy for improved reimbursement structures, loan repayment, and funded programs for physician scientists will enhance the recruitment and retention of pediatric subspecialists to guarantee advancement of knowledge and the appropriate care of children with chronic and complex diseases.

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Fig. 1: Pediatric subspecialty workforce pathway and its challenges.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Adam L Turner, MPH, Director of Research, Analytics, and Visualization at the American Boards of Pediatrics for providing the information on gender and ethnicity/race presented in Table 1.

Funding

The authors have not received any financial support for the PAS panel or publication.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Newborn Medicine, Tufts Medicine Pediatrics at Tufts University, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, US

    Christiane E. Dammann

  2. Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, US

    Cristina M. Alvira

  3. Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, US

    Sherin U. Devaskar

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US

    Joseph W. St. Geme III

  5. Eudowood Neonatal Pulmonary Division, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, US

    W. Christopher Golden

  6. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, US

    Catherine M. Gordon & Karen K. Winer

  7. Department of Pediatrics, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Oregon Health & Science University, Baltimore, US

    Benjamin Hoffmann

  8. Department of Pediatrics, UC Davis Children’s Hospital, Sacramento, US

    Satyan Lakshminrusimha

  9. American Board of Pediatrics, Chapel Hill, US

    Laurel K. Leslie

  10. Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, US

    Maria Trent

  11. Department of Pediatrics, UChicago Medicine at the University of Chicago, Chicago, US

    H. Barrett Fromme

Authors
  1. Christiane E. Dammann
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Contributions

Christiane E.L. Dammann led the initial conception and design of the PAS panel discussions and this commentary, she drafted the important intellectual content and finalized the manuscript before submission after final approval by all co-authors. Satyan Lakshminrusimha contributed to the conception and design of the PAS panel discussions and this commentary, he revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission. Dr. Lakshminrusimha also created Fig. 1. Maria Trent contributed to the conception and design of the PAS panel discussions and this commentary, she revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission. Laurel K. Leslie contributed to PAS panel discussions and this commentary, she revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission. Benjamin Hoffmann contributed to PAS panel discussions and this commentary, he revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission. Joseph W. St. Geme III contributed to PAS panel discussions and this commentary, he revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission. Sherin U. Devaskar contributed to PAS panel discussions and this commentary, she revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission. Catherine M. Gordon contributed to PAS panel discussions and this commentary, she revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission. Karen K. Winer contributed to PAS panel discussions and this commentary, she revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission. Cristina M. Alvira contributed to PAS panel discussions and this commentary, she revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission. W. Christopher Golden contributed to PAS panel discussions and this commentary, he revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission. H. Barrett Fromme contributed to the conception and design of the PAS panel discussions and this commentary, she revised the important intellectual content and gave final approval before submission.

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Correspondence to Christiane E. Dammann.

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Dammann, C.E., Alvira, C.M., Devaskar, S.U. et al. Pediatric subspecialty workforce: what is needed to secure its vitality and survival?. Pediatr Res 97, 2208–2214 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03607-4

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