Match Date-to-Start Date: Engaging Fellows Pre-Training

Background: The accelerating pace of progress in hematology and medical oncology is stressing an already packed curriculum. Finding time for innovative curriculum-design or to improve current curricula is challenging. We found no data in the literature about using the pre-training Match Date-to-Start Date period effectively for any educational activities of fellowship training in any discipline in the USA. Our aim was to target fellows matched to our program and see if the six months from Match Date-to-Start Date could be meaningfully utilized without interfering with their pre-training workload and activities.

Method: Within four weeks following their match date, the four incoming fellows received a questionnaire. The questionnaire targeted six key research variables, encompassing their field of interest, preferred type of research, desired mentorship, self-assessment of current skills, and the amount of time they were willing to dedicate per week to any fellowship program-related recommended reading until the official start date of July 1. We sent each fellow one email each week with one or two PDFs as educational material. Each fellow received a list of potential mentors with mentor-CVs and information about each mentor's area of focus. Each fellow could choose up to two mentors to interview with. Using their responses as a guide, we arranged 30-minute video meetings between the fellows and their choice of potential mentors. Prior to the start-date, we administered a questionnaire to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of this process.

Results: A total of 4 fellows were given a questionnaire post-match to gather their interests, skill set and time willing to dedicate to research. The responses were received in less than 24 hours (table 1). 2/4 chose to focus their research and scholarly activities in medical oncology/solid tumors and the other two chose to focus on malignant hematology. ¾ did not have a chosen mentor already. For their self-reported skills, 75% felt confident in abstract writing and poster presentation while only 50% felt confident in manuscript and grant writing skills. All 4 of them were willing to Commit 1-3 hours match date to start date on items related to research and scholarly activity. By April, each of the four fellows had been successfully paired with a mentor of their choice. At the end of the study period, the pre-start-date questionnaire demonstrated that all 4 fellows strongly agreed that that this Match Date-to-Start Date program was helpful, was not disruptive, and liked the process of choosing their mentor prior to starting their training.

Conclusion: This program was designed as a pioneering initiative to optimize the time between the match date and the start date of fellowship training for incoming hematology oncology fellows. Its primary objectives were met: to facilitate a seamless transition for fellows, providing them with valuable opportunities to connect with mentors who share their research interests, enabling them to make informed choices. Additionally, we have implemented a semi-annual follow-up system to document the progress, challenges faced, and gather feedback on how to enhance and refine the program.