Neonatology is a pediatric sub-discipline focused on providing care for newborn infants, including healthy newborns, those born
prematurely, and those who present with illnesses or malformations requiring medical care. The European Training Requirements
(ETR) in Neonatology provide a framework for standardized quality and recognition of equality of training throughout Europe. The
latest ETR version was approved by the Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS) in April 2021. Here, we present the
curriculum of the European School of Neonatology Master of Advanced Studies (ESN MAS), which is based on the ETR in
Neonatology and aims to provide a model for effective and standardized training and education in neonatal medicine. We review
the history and theory that form the foundation of contemporary medical education and training, provide a literature review on
best practices for medical training, pediatric training, and neonatology training specifically, including educational frameworks and
evidence-based systems of evaluation. The ESN MAS Curriculum is then evaluated in light of these best practices to define its role in
meeting the need for a standardized empirically supported neonatology training curriculum for physicians, and in the future for
nurses, to improve the quality of neonatal care for all infants.
Pediatric Research; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03182-8
IMPACT STATEMENT:
● A review of the neonatology training literature was conducted, which concluded that there is a need for standardized
neonatology training across international contexts to keep pace with growth in the field and rapidly advancing technology.
This article presents the European School of Neonatology Master of Advanced Studies in Neonatology, which is intended to
provide a standardized training curriculum for pediatricians and nurses seeking sub-specialization in neonatology. The
curriculum is evaluated in light of best practices in medical education, neonatology training, and adult learning theory