Perception and willingness of Greek early career scientists to specialize in infectious diseases: a survey of the Hellenic Society of Chemotherapy Early Career Study Group

The recent pandemic has highlighted the role of Infectious Diseases (ID) Specialists. In Greece, ID is a two-year subspecialty of internal medicine or pediatrics. We aimed to discover the willingness of early career Greek scientists (ECS) to specialize in ID. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among undergraduate 4th -5th -6th -year medical students, residents of internal medicine/pediatrics, and Master (MSc) graduates of the Program “Infectious Diseases” of the University of Athens. Data were collected via an electronic case report form ( https://hsch.gr/erotimatologia/ ) from 17 September to 16 November 2025 and included demographics, level of education/training, satisfaction of ID training, willingness to specialize in ID, reasons if not, and suggestions how ID would attract more scientists. All society members were contacted by email, as well as, members of two panhellenic medical student societies. In total, 556 ECS responded; 310 students, 192 residents, and 54 MSc graduates; 66.9% were female, aged 27 ± 6 years, and 81.5% were aware that ID is a subspecialty. Among medical students, 274 (88.4%) were exposed very often/often to patients with common infections, whereas 254 (81.9%) never or seldom to infections in special populations. Respectively, 189 (98.4%) residents reported being exposed very often to patients with common infections and 88 (45.8%) to infections in special populations. Among respondents, 22.6% of students declared intention to specialize in ID; 41.1% of residents and 81.5% of MSc holders ( p < 0.001). 17.5% of medical students declared that although interested in ID, they do not wish to train in Internal Medicine/Pediatrics. When participants were asked “how ID would be more attractive”, 39.8% responded by training for some time in an ID center in Europe/ USA and 24.8% in a special field such as immunocompromised patients. Results imply that it may be the case that independent training with a separate curriculum makes ID more attractive.