Pediatric and adolescent gynecology (PAG) is an important and required aspect of training in obstetrics and gynecology (ob/gyn), pediatrics, and adolescent medicine. There are specific PAG learning objectives for the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the United States (US), the American Board of Pediatrics, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.1, 2, 3, 4 These objectives must be fulfilled for postgraduate training programs to receive their accreditation and for trainees to pass their board certification examinations.

Currently, there are 18 recognized PAG fellowship training programs in the United States and Canada. While the number of PAG providers continues to grow, the number of ob/gyn residency programs with PAG expertise in North America remains limited. Surveys of ob/gyn residents confirm this limited PAG exposure and their desire to learn more.5, 6, 7, 8 Canadian studies also support these findings, concluding that PAG training is variable and a common barrier is lack of resources.9 Thus, the degree of exposure might be insufficient to meet the PAG learning objectives in most training programs.

Pediatrics residency training programs also offer limited exposure to PAG topics. Although a month of adolescent medicine training is required of all pediatric residents in the United States, use of this time varies.10 Thus, many US and Canadian pediatric resident graduates believe they are unprepared to provide gynecologic, sexual and reproductive health care.11,12

The North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (NASPAG) aims to provide multidisciplinary leadership in education, research, and gynecologic care to improve the reproductive health of youth.13 The NASPAG Resident Education Committee was created in 2012 with the purpose of developing PAG geared curriculum for trainees. The committee is composed of trainees and attendings in ob/gyn, PAG, and adolescent medicine, developed and continues to maintain the Short Curriculum, the Long Curriculum, and PAG WebEd (a collection of case based online learning modules).14 Studies have shown improved self-reported knowledge in PAG among trainees in programs that have implemented the Short Curriculum.15,16