Demand outstrips supply of US pediatric dermatologists: results from a national survey

The US pediatric dermatology workforce was last examined in 1986 when limited employment opportunity was found. We sought to re-examine pediatric dermatology workforce issues. US dermatology chairpersons and residency program directors were surveyed for: (1) agreement with pediatric dermatology workforce statements; and (2) pediatric dermatology faculty and fellow numbers. Respondents agreed that having a pediatric dermatologist or dermatologists on faculty is important, and that a shortage of pediatric dermatologists exists, but did not agree that increasing pediatric dermatology training requirements will increase this shortage. Almost half of the programs (45/94) employed a full-time pediatric dermatologist, and 24 programs had currently been recruiting a pediatric dermatologist for more than 1 year. Only 6 pediatric dermatology fellows were in training. Given that open pediatric dermatology faculty positions greatly exceed the number of fellows in training and that formal training requirements will be increasing, the shortage of pediatric dermatologists will likely continue.