The impact of coronavirus 2019 on general surgery residency: A national survey of program directors

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on patient care, including the increased utilization of contact-free clinic visits using telemedicine. We looked to assess current utilization of, experience with, and opinions regarding telemedicine by general surgery residents at an academic university–based surgical training program. Design A response-anonymous 19-question survey was electronically distributed to all general surgery residents at a single academic university–based general surgery residency program. Setting University of Southern California (USC) general surgery residency participants: Voluntarily participating general surgery residents at the University of Southern California. Results The response rate from USC general surgery residents was 100%. A majority of residents (76%) had utilized either video- or telephone-based visits during their careers. No resident had undergone formal training to provide telemedicine, although most residents indicated a desire for training (57.1%) and acknowledged that telemedicine should be a part of surgical training (75.6%). A wide variety of opinions regarding the educational experience of residents participating in telemedicine visits was elicited. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic brought telemedicine to the forefront as an integral part of future patient care, including for surgical patients. Additional investigations into nationwide telemedicine exposure and practice among United States general surgery residencies is imperative, and the impact of the implementation of telemedicine curricula on general surgery resident telemedicine utilization, comfort with telemedicine technology, and patient outcomes are further warranted. Competencies Practice-based learning, systems-based practice, interpersonal and communication skills

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Results of a national survey on ethics education in general surgery residency programs

The American Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1016/s0002-9610(97)00112-8 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 174 (3) ◽

pp. 364-368 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Marc T. Downing ◽

Dave P. Way ◽

Donna A. Caniano

Keyword(s):

National Survey ◽

General Surgery ◽

Ethics Education ◽

Residency Programs ◽

General Surgery Residency

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General Surgery Twitter during COVID-19: Tweets, Trends, and Implications for Recruitment Strategies

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/00031348211060414 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000313482110604

Author(s):

James Shell Cox ◽

Chase J. Wehrle ◽

Christopher Mejias ◽

Aditya K. Devarakonda ◽

Jonathan Andrew McKenzie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

General Surgery ◽

Recruitment Strategies ◽

Residency Programs ◽

General Surgery Residency ◽

Recruitment Practices ◽

The Subject ◽

Virtual Events ◽

The Impact

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional resident recruitment practices, requiring virtual interviews and new forms of outreach. Social media, such as Twitter, is one tool programs can use to connect with applicants. This study sought to assess changes in Twitter use during the COVID-19 pandemic among general surgery programs. Methods Twitter and residency program websites were queried for public Twitter accounts related to general surgery residency programs. Publicly available tweets for available accounts were reviewed for all posts for the period March 15, 2019-November 25, 2020. Thematic analysis of each tweet was performed, and engagement was determined by likes and retweets on each tweet. Results The number of programs with active Twitter accounts increased after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, as did the number of tweets, likes-, and retweets-per-tweet. There was a significant increase in the number of tweets regarding resident promotion, program promotion, and virtual event promotion. Tweets received more likes-per-tweet if the subject was program promotion and resident promotion than tweets regarding virtual events. All results were statistically significant ( P < .05). Discussion Twitter use and engagement with residency programs have increased significantly since pandemic onset. Engagement is highest for tweets regarding program and resident promotion as measured by likes-per-tweet and highest for program promotion and virtual events as measured by retweets-per-tweet. Given the nearly nationwide increase in Twitter engagement after pandemic onset, programs should consider the impact of Twitter as a means of communication with applicants and program branding.

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Publication Patterns and the Impact of Self-Citation among General Surgery Residency Programs

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/000313482008600107 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 86 (1) ◽

pp. 10-13

Author(s):

Robert J. Conrad ◽

Benjamin C. Clark ◽

Dylan M. Russell ◽

John S. Mayo ◽

Fadi M. Balla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Surgery ◽

Residency Programs ◽

General Surgery Residency ◽

Publication Patterns ◽

The Impact

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National Survey of Canadian General Surgery Program Directors Regarding Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma

Journal of Surgical Education ◽

10.1016/j.jsurg.2009.04.004 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 66 (4) ◽

pp. 193-195 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Dennis Y. Kim ◽

Jean-Denis Yelle ◽

A. Curtis Lee ◽

Michael Y. Woo

Keyword(s):

National Survey ◽

General Surgery ◽

Program Directors

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Residency Training in Robotic General Surgery: A Survey of Program Directors

Minimally Invasive Surgery ◽

10.1155/2018/8464298 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Lea C. George ◽

Rebecca O’Neill ◽

Aziz M. Merchant

Keyword(s):

Robotic Surgery ◽

Residency Training ◽

General Surgery ◽

Simulation Training ◽

Program Directors ◽

Current Approach ◽

General Surgery Residency ◽

Electronic Survey ◽

Surgery Training ◽

Robotic Surgery Training

Objective. Robotic surgery continues to expand in minimally invasive surgery; however, the literature is insufficient to understand the current training process for general surgery residents. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to identify the current approach to and perspectives on robotic surgery training. Methods. An electronic survey was distributed to general surgery program directors identified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education website. Multiple choice and open-ended questions regarding current practices and opinions on robotic surgery training in general surgery residency programs were used. Results. 20 program directors were surveyed, a majority being from medium-sized programs (4–7 graduating residents per year). Most respondents (73.68%) had a formal robotic surgery curriculum at their institution, with 63.16% incorporating simulation training. Approximately half of the respondents believe that more time should be dedicated to robotic surgery training (52.63%), with simulation training prior to console use (84.21%). About two-thirds of the respondents (63.16%) believe that a formal robotic surgery curriculum should be established as a part of general surgery residency, with more than half believing that exposure should occur in postgraduate year one (55%). Conclusion. A formal robotics curriculum with simulation training and early surgical exposure for general surgery residents should be given consideration in surgical residency training.

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Paying the Price: Understanding the Opportunity Cost of Dedicated Research Time during Surgical Training

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/000313481808401125 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 84 (11) ◽

pp. 1723-1726 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael P. Dewane ◽

Daniel C. Thomas ◽

Walter E. Longo ◽

Peter S. Yoo

Keyword(s):

Cost Analysis ◽

Surgical Training ◽

General Surgery ◽

Opportunity Cost ◽

Surgical Oncology ◽

Academic Hospital ◽

Surgical Residency ◽

General Surgery Residency ◽

The Impact ◽

Financial Implication

The pursuit of dedicated research time during surgical residency prolongs training and delays entry into practice. Currently, there is a lack of research quantifying the financial implication of this delay and trainees’ understanding of its impact on career earnings. An opportunity cost analysis was performed regarding the impact of delay due to training within general surgery and selected subspecialties. An anonymous survey was distributed to general surgery categorical junior trainees in 2017 at a large academic hospital in the Northeast to determine understanding and beliefs regarding dedicated training on career earnings. For all specialties analyzed, dedicated research time was shown to negatively affect career earnings. The net cost was highest among those intending to pursue cardiothoracic surgery and lowest for those intending to pursue surgical oncology. A total of 26 of 35 (74%) present research residents and clinical residents intending to perform dedicated research time responded to an anonymous survey. On average, survey respondents underestimated the impact of dedicated research time on career earnings by $1.4 million. Dedicated research time during general surgery residency carries a substantial opportunity cost to overall career earnings. General surgery residents lack understanding of both the direction and the magnitude of this opportunity cost.

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Staff perceptions on the impact of a general surgery residency program

Journal of the American College of Surgeons ◽

10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2014.07.821 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 219 (4) ◽

pp. e162

Author(s):

Steven Perrins ◽

Conrad H. Simpfendorfer ◽

Emanuele Lo Menzo ◽

Raul J. Rosenthal

Keyword(s):

General Surgery ◽

Residency Program ◽

Staff Perceptions ◽

General Surgery Residency ◽

Surgery Residency Program ◽

The Impact

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Global Health in General Surgery Residency: A National Survey

Journal of the American College of Surgeons ◽

10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2008.11.014 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 208 (3) ◽

pp. 426-433 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Sudha P. Jayaraman ◽

Alexander L. Ayzengart ◽

Laura H. Goetz ◽

Doruk Ozgediz ◽

Diana L. Farmer

Keyword(s):

Global Health ◽

National Survey ◽

General Surgery ◽

General Surgery Residency

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The Virtual Interview Experience for MATCH 2021: A Pilot Survey of General Surgery Residency Program Directors

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/00031348211038555 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 000313482110385

Author(s):

Aashish Rajesh ◽

Malke Asaad ◽

Rami Elmorsi ◽

Andrew M. Ferry ◽

Renata S. Maricevich

Keyword(s):

General Surgery ◽

Program Directors ◽

The United States ◽

Future Application ◽

General Surgery Residency ◽

Residency Application ◽

Resident Selection ◽

Surgery Residency Program ◽

The Cost ◽

Residency Program Directors

Background Virtual interviews (VIs) for the 2020 residency application season were mandated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to determine the perspectives of general surgery (GS) program directors (PDs) on the benefits and drawbacks of VIs. Methods A 14-item survey was emailed to all GS PDs from programs identified on the American Council for Graduate Medical Education website. Program directors were asked about the cost-time benefit of VIs, its ability to assess candidates, and their thoughts on the future of VIs for evaluating residency applicants. Results 60 PDs responded corresponding to a response rate of 21%. While 93% agreed/strongly agreed that VIs were less expensive, only 35% found VIs to be less time-consuming. 75% and 67%, respectively, disagreed/strongly disagreed that VIs allowed for an easier assessment of an applicant’s fit, and personality and communication skills. Almost one-half of our survey respondents suggested that VIs made the selection committee rely more heavily on objective applicant data. Almost two-thirds of GS PDs suggested that they would adopt both VI and in-person interview formats for future application cycles. The median [interquartile range] cost saved through the implementation of VIs was US$ 4500 [1625 – 10 000]. Conclusion Remarkably, VIs have been swiftly imbibed by all residency programs and many aspects of the VI experience were positive. While MATCH 2021 has definitely proved to be one of its kind, the implementation of VIs has been met with overall broad success and a promising future awaits this novel modality of resident selection to GME programs in the United States.

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