Preferred content, construct, and duration of a fellowship structure in HPB surgery: a cross-sectional, pan-European survey among trainees and trainers

Tim Reese; Stefan Gilg; Marc G Besselink; Kjetil Soreide

doi:10.1016/j.hpb.2025.01.012

Preferred content, construct, and duration of a fellowship structure in HPB surgery: a cross-sectional, pan-European survey among trainees and trainers

HPB (Oxford). 2025 Jan 31:S1365-182X(25)00031-0. doi: 10.1016/j.hpb.2025.01.012. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Tim Reese¹, Stefan Gilg², Marc G Besselink³, Kjetil Soreide⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Surgery and Oncology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: tim.reese@regionstockholm.se.
² Division of Surgery and Oncology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
³ Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Surgery, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
⁴ Division of Surgery and Oncology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.

PMID: 39924370
DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2025.01.012

Abstract

Background: Fellowships in HPB surgery are lacking across Europe. The aim of this survey was to investigate preferences towards an HPB-fellowship structure among trainees and trainers.

Methods: A cross-sectional pan-European survey of trainees and consultants in HPB across Europe. Preferred content, duration and construct of a fellowship program was explored.

Results: Responses from 221 eligible participants were analysed, covering all European regions (40 % trainees, of which 31 % women). Preferred duration was 2 years (53 %), international availability (71 %) and in English language (by two-thirds overall; 74 % among trainees). A majority About two-thirds (63 %) preferred an official fellowship teaching curriculum provided by the E-AHPBA. Most The vast majority of participants (n = 211; 95 %) supported accreditation of HPB-fellowships by the E-AHPBA. Trainees reported higher priorities towards technical training (i.e. time in operating room; first surgeon opportunity; minimal-invasive technique training) than consultants, while time for non-operative activities (i.e. ward rounds; responsibility for multidisciplinary team meetings etc) was valued higher by consultants.

Conclusions: We identified preferences and needs towards construct and competence in HPB fellowships with strong support for involvement of E-AHPBA in providing a involvement teaching curriculum and accreditation. A unified HPB fellowship construct and registry across Europe guided by E-AHPBA may take this into consideration.