Benefits and challenges of combined pediatrics-anesthesiology residency programs: A qualitative study.

This is the first study to describe the perceived educational and professional benefits of combined pediatrics-anesthesiology residency programs. Combined training affords exceptional clinical competence and autonomy in the management of pediatric patients and the ability to skillfully navigate hospital systems, and leads to robust academic and career opportunities. However, the duration of training and challenging transitions may threaten residents' sense of relatedness to colleagues and peers, and their self-perceived competence and autonomy. These results can inform mentoring and recruitment of residents to combined pediatrics-anesthesiology programs and career opportunities for graduates.