LETTER
Misrepresentation of Academic Accomplishments by Applicants for Gastroenterology Fellowships
Harpreet Brar, MD
15 February 1996 | Volume 124 Issue 4 | Page 457
TO THE EDITOR:
Until recently, I was in the foray for a gastroenterology fellowship spot and can vouch for the stress associated with the process. Although I find it unsavory, I am not surprised to learn that some persons, especially those with a high level of motivation, may be moved to manufacture additional "data" to appear more favorable to selection committees.
Sekas and Hutson [1] allude to the "confidential" nature of material provided by an applicant, yet they could not overcome this moral hurdle. They used these data to produce their article but did not inform the parent institutions—those writing to recommend the candidates of the specifics. My thoughts in this matter mirror those of Dr. Kimball [2], who would prefer that no moral hurdle exist where patient care may be in jeopardy.
I trust that this would be an opportunity for program directors not only to make the candidate selection process better serve the program but also to make it less intimidating for quality applicants (who do not have 12 or more publications as they enter the second year of residency). Some of the suggestions put forth by Sekas and Hutson are useful but would only serve to make the process more cumbersome. I believe that the only true safeguard against such immoral developments would be accountability at the parent institution. The candidate's exploits must be shared with the chair of medicine at his or her home institution, so that counselors and other remedial measures may be brought to bear.
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Author and Article Information
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University of Washington; Seattle, WA 98795
1. Sekas G, Hutson WR. Misrepresentation of academic accomplishments by applicants for gastroenterology fellowships. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 123:38-41.
2. Kimball HR. Credentials misrepresentation: another challenge to professionalism [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 123:58-9.
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