Last updated: 6 December 2017

What is a medical fellow?

In medicine the term ‘fellow’ is used to describe an individual who has completed advanced training in an area of medicine or surgery to become a specialist in that field.

The various academic institutions representing each specialty have their own rules, and precise training requirements vary between institutions. Generally having completed the basic medical degree, an internship, and one or two years of residency, a doctor may enter specialty training.

Specialty training varies from 3 years to 7 years depending on the specialty. Trainee specialist doctors known as registrars are closely supervised by fully qualified specialists through these years. They sit examinations and undergo rigorous training, eventually being elected to Fellowship when they have successfully completed all training requirements.

List of medical specialist fellowships in Australia

Adapted from The AMC’s List of Australian Recognised Medical Specialties  and Schedule 4 of the Health Insurance Regulations 1975

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. If in doubt, HealthEngine recommends consulting with a registered health practitioner.