The current state of the board-certified adult congenital heart disease workforce 10 years after initial certification.

Abstract

Introduction: There is growing concern about a workforce shortage in Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) cardiologists to care for the ever-increasing population of ACHD patients. Providing an accurate representation of the ACHD field and its board-certified workforce is crucial.

Methods: This retrospective analysis examined a cohort of all American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) ACHD board-certified physicians since 2015. The variables of interest include year of certification, eligibility pathway, additional ABIM certifications, age group, sex, medical school type, and geographic location.

Results: The all-time cohort included 509 diplomates by ABIM, 89% of whom were certified before the sundowning of the practice pathway. The cohort is predominantly male, older, and has a background in pediatric cardiology and USMG MD training. Most are in highly populated states and major urban centers. Compared to those certified before the practice pathway ended, the more recent diplomates are younger, with fewer males and more from adult cardiology training programs.

Conclusion: There is a workforce shortage of ACHD cardiologists, and current ACHD fellowship training is insufficient to offset the attrition of the ACHD physician workforce or to support its growth to the desired size. This constitutes a call for action to survey the ACHD workforce, explore potential advancements in the ACHD training model, dissemination of a certain level of ACHD knowledge, and advocate further for the value of ACHD and its providers in the healthcare system.