The Future Pediatric Subspecialty Physician Workforce

This report addresses the challenges and opportunities in the pediatric subspecialty workforce, which is essential for ensuring high-quality care, advancing research, and improving child health outcomes. Despite their critical role, pediatric subspecialists face disincentives, workforce shortages, and limited diversity, all of which affect access to care and collaboration with primary care clinicians. The report provides evidence-based recommendations to support training, recruitment, retention, and effective deployment of pediatric subspecialists and physician-scientists, ultimately aiming to strengthen care and research for infants, children, and adolescents.

Key Features:

• Identifies barriers to pursuing careers in pediatric subspecialties, including financial and systemic challenges.
• Highlights workforce shortages and gaps in diversity and inclusion.
• Recommends strategies to improve collaboration between primary care and subspecialists.
• Offers guidance to expand pediatric research and ensure equitable access to high-quality subspecialty care.
• Serves as a roadmap for policymakers, health systems, and academic institutions to enhance child health outcomes.