Survey of clinical pharmacology training in the United States and Canada.

A survey of 139 medical schools in the United States and Canada was conducted in 1993-1994 to determine where active training programs in clinical pharmacology were located. A secondary survey of clinical pharmacology program directors followed in 1994-1995. Thirty-nine active programs were identified where 113 fellows (84 physicians and 29 nonphysicians) were enrolled. Sixty-eight percent of current physician fellows were trained in internal medicine before they entered their clinical pharmacology program. Forty-four percent of trainees were reported to be U.S. citizens. Fewer than 20 fellows complete training each year. The reported content of training programs was 12% didactic, 72% research, 12% clinical service, and 9% supervised teaching. Funding sources for trainees varied considerably. Nearly 50% of trainees were supported all or in part by funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and approximately 40% relied on international sources of support. No correlation between salary and funding source or fellow degree was found. Nearly two-thirds of recent program graduates obtained employment in an academic setting, whereas 15% entered the pharmaceutical industry. These data indicate that subspecialty training in clinical pharmacology is available at 39 medical schools in the United States and Canada. Current fellowship training is primarily research based and nearly equally supported by NIH and international sources.