General Surgery Residency Inadequately Prepares Trainees for Fellowship

• DOI: 10.1097/sla.0b013e3182a191ca
• Publication Date: 2013-08-09T11:23:27Z
• Authors: Samer G. Mattar; Adnan A. Alseidi; Daniel B. Jones; D. Rohan Jeyarajah; Lee L. Swanstrom; Ralph W. Aye; Steven D. Wexner; José M. Martinez; Sharona B. Ross; Michael M. Awad; Morris E. Franklin; Maurice E. Arregui; Bruce D. Schirmer; Rebecca M. Minter
• Keywords: Subspecialty; Thematic Analysis; Graduate medical education

To assess readiness of general surgery graduate trainees entering accredited surgical subspecialty fellowships in North America.A multidomain, global assessment survey designed by the Fellowship Council research committee was electronically sent to all program directors. Respondents spanned minimally invasive surgery, bariatric, colorectal, hepatobiliary, and thoracic specialties. There were 46 quantitative questions distributed across 5 domains 1 or more reflective qualitative questions/domains.There a 63% response rate (n = 91/145). Of respondent directors, 21% felt that new fellows arrived unprepared for operating room, 38% demonstrated lack patient ownership, 30% could not independently perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 66% deemed unable operate 30 unsupervised minutes major procedure. With regard skills, atraumatically manipulate tissue, 26% recognize anatomical planes, 56% suture. Furthermore, 28% familiar with therapeutic options 24% early signs complications. Finally, it majority conceive, design, conduct research/academic projects. Thematic clustering data revealed deficits operative autonomy, progressive responsibility, longitudinal follow-up, scholarly focus after education.