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Workforce in hepatology: Update and a critical need for more information
Author(s) -
Russo Mark W.,
Koteish Ayman A.,
Fuchs Michael,
Reddy K. Gautham,
Fix Oren K.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.28810
Subject(s) - hepatology , workforce , medicine , nephrology , nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , certification , accreditation , family medicine , medical education , disease , fatty liver , political science , law
The field of hepatology has experienced dramatic changes since the last workforce study in hepatology over 15 years ago. Hepatology practice has been dominated by hepatitis C but is now being overtaken by patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Expertise once attainable only through informal training, hepatology now has an accredited fellowship pathway and is recognized as a distinct discipline from gastroenterology with its own board certification. These changes that have occurred since the last workforce study in the prevalence and therapy of liver diseases and training may impact workforce needs. The time has come to conduct an updated analysis of the state of the hepatology workforce. The purpose of this article is to discuss the current issues facing training and workforce in hepatology and propose the next steps in conducting a workforce study. (H epatology 2017;65:336‐340).