Download PDF
Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2012; 25(03): 134-142
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1322526
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Colorectal Surgeons Teaching General Surgery Residents: Current Challenges and Opportunities

Connie C. Schmitz
1   Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
,
Christopher J. Chow
1   Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
,
David A. Rothenberger
1   Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
04 September 2012 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Effective teaching for general surgery residents requires that faculty members with colorectal expertise actively engage in the education process and fully understand the current context for residency training. In this article, we review important national developments with respect to graduate medical education that impact resident supervision, curriculum implementation, resident assessment, and program evaluation. We argue that establishing a culture of respect and professionalism in today's teaching environment is one of the most important legacies that surgical educators can leave for the coming generation. Faculty role modeling and the process of socializing residents is highlighted. We review the American College of Surgeons' Code of Professional Conduct, summarize some of the current strategies for teaching and assessing professionalism, and reflect on principles of motivation that apply to resident training both for the trainee and the trainer.

Keywords

surgery residents - professionalism - graduate medical education - medical ethics - mentoring
 

  • References

  • 1 Surgical Council on Resident Education. General Surgery Residency Curriculum Outline: Patient Care and Medical Knowledge. Philadelphia, PA: Surgical Council on Resident Education. Available at: http://www.surgicalcore.org/ . Accessed October 21, 2011
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Schmitz CC, Rothenberger DA, Trudel JL, Wolff BG. Career decisions and the structure of training: an American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery survey of colorectal residents. Ann Surg 2009; 250 (1) 62-67
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Neumann M, Edelhäuser F, Tauschel D , et al. Empathy decline and its reasons: a systematic review of studies with medical students and residents. Acad Med 2011; 86 (8) 996-1009
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Van Eaton EG, Tarpley JL, Solorzano CC, Cho CS, Weber SM, Termuhlen PM. Resident education in 2011: three key challenges on the road ahead. Surgery 2011; 149 (4) 465-473
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 American Board of Surgery. Program Summary of Performance on ABS Examinations: 2006–2011. First Taker Examination Pass Rates. Available at: http://www.absurgery.org/xfer/fyp2011summary.pdf . Accessed November 23, 2011
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Hackbarth G. MEDPAC's recommendations on GME financing reform and their rationale. Paper presented at: Annual Meeting of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery; March 25, 2011; Boston, MA
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Bell Jr RH, Biester TW, Tabuenca A , et al. Operative experience of residents in US general surgery programs: a gap between expectation and experience. Ann Surg 2009; 249 (5) 719-724
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Stain SC, Biester TW, Hanks JB , et al. Early tracking would improve the operative experience of general surgery residents. Ann Surg 2010; 252 (3) 445-449 , discussion 449–451
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Cameron JL. William Stewart Halsted. Our surgical heritage. Ann Surg 1997; 225 (5) 445-458
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Imber G. Genius on the Edge: The Bizarre Double Life of Dr. William Stewart Halsted. New York, NY: Kaplan Publishing; 2011
    Google Scholar
  • 11 ACS. American College of Surgeons Professional Code of Conduct. Available at: http://www.facs.org/memberservices/codeofconduct.html . Accessed October 28, 2011
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Barry L, Blair PG, Cosgrove EM , et al; American College of Surgeons Task Force on Professionalism. One year, and counting, after publication of our ACS “Code of Professional Conduct.”. J Am Coll Surg 2004; 199 (5) 736-740
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Gruen RL, Arya J, Cosgrove EM , et al; American College of Surgeons Task Froce on Professionalism. Professionalism in surgery. J Am Coll Surg 2003; 197 (4) 605-608
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Hochberg MS, Berman RS, Kalet AL, Zabar SR, Gillespie C, Pachter HL ; Surgical Professionalism and Interpersonal Communications Education Study Group. The professionalism curriculum as a cultural change agent in surgical residency education. Am J Surg 2012; 203 (1) 14-20
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Maker VK, Donnelly MB. Surgical resident peer evaluations-what have we learned. J Surg Educ 2008; 65 (1) 8-16
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Park J, Woodrow SI, Reznick RK, Beales J, MacRae HM. Observation, reflection, and reinforcement: surgery faculty members' and residents' perceptions of how they learned professionalism. Acad Med 2010; 85 (1) 134-139
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Bland CJ. Professional academic skills domain. In: Bland CJ, Schmitz CC, Stritter FT, Henry RC, Aluise JJ, , eds. Successful Faculty in Academic Medicine: Essential Skills and How to Acquire Them. New York, NY: Springer; 1990: 207-237
    Google Scholar
  • 18 Heifetz RA, Linsky M. Leadership on the Line. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press; 2002
    Google Scholar
  • 19 Black P. Cultural and religious beliefs in stoma care nursing. Br J Nurs 2009; 18 (13) 790-793
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Gauger PG, Gruppen LD, Minter RM, Colletti LM, Stern DT. Initial use of a novel instrument to measure professionalism in surgical residents. Am J Surg 2005; 189 (4) 479-487
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Larkin AC, Cahan MA, Whalen G , et al. Human Emotion and Response in Surgery (HEARS): a simulation-based curriculum for communication skills, systems-based practice, and professionalism in surgical residency training. J Am Coll Surg 2010; 211 (2) 285-292
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Hochberg MS, Kalet A, Zabar S, Kachur E, Gillespie C, Berman RS. Can professionalism be taught? Encouraging evidence. Am J Surg 2010; 199 (1) 86-93
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Ponton-Carss A, Hutchison C, Violato C. Assessment of communication, professionalism, and surgical skills in an objective structured performance-related examination (OSPRE): a psychometric study. Am J Surg 2011; 202 (4) 433-440
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Chipman JG, Webb TP, Shabahang M , et al. A multi-institutional study of the Family Conference Objective Structured Clinical Exam: a reliable assessment of professional communication. Am J Surg 2011; 201 (4) 492-497
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Dehmer JJ, Stafford RE, Marshall HP, Koruda MJ, Meyer AA. Boot camp: a method of introducing the competency of professionalism to surgical residents. Am Surg 2011; 77 (7) 960-961
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Iramaneerat C. Instruction and assessment of professionalism for surgery residents. J Surg Educ 2009; 66 (3) 158-162
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Schmitz CC, Antonoff MB, D'Cunha J. Developing self-regulated learning habits can help residents be better learners. American College of Surgeons Residency Assist Page. Available at: http://www.facs.org/education/rap/schmitz1110.html . Accessed November 5, 2010
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Pink D. Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us. New York, NY: Riverhead Books; 2009
    Google Scholar
  • 29 Warner BW. Presidential address: professionalism and surgery–kindness and putting patients first. Surgery 2004; 136 (2) 105-115
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar