A recent New England Journal of Medicine Clinical Decisions article asked whether selected internal medicine residents in the United States should be allowed to enter subspecialty fellowship after 2 rather than 3 years of residency [1]. The arguments for such a “fast-track” pathway are understandable: competency-based medical education should recognize individual differences in learning, some residents may achieve predefined competencies earlier than others, and shortening training may reduce financial and personal burdens.
