Decision to enter pulmonology: motives and implications.

A study was undertaken to determine at what time American-trained pulmonary disease specialists in two California counties made their subspecialty choices and the factors which influenced their decision. Responses to 281 questionnaires were received and analyzed from 171 fellows, faculty members, and practitioners (60.8 percent). Subspecialty decisions for pulmonology were usually made during residency, motivated by pulmonary rotations and exposure to stimulating faculty members. Although this subspecialty has recently developed into an established, growing field, the survey data confirmed that the amount of pulmonary interaction during medical school remains minimal.