Developing Leaders in Surgical Residency: A Curriculum for Success

• Published in: Journal of surgical education 2024-10, Vol.81 (10), p.1469-1472
• Main Authors: Olson, Conner P., Miller, William C., Olson, Shelbi L., Dillon, Bridget S., Brunsvold, Melissa E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: career development; Curriculum; Education, Medical, Graduate - organization & administration; General Surgery - education; Humans; Internship and Residency - organization & administration; Leadership; Minnesota; Surgical education
• ISSN: 1931-7204; 1878-7452; 1878-7452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.07.002

•Leadership skills are crucial as surgical residents take on senior roles.•Developing leadership skills is difficult to do as a resident without support due to the nature of surgical residency.•A brief course in leadership skills can introduce the foundations of successful leadership.•This course can be easily implemented in residency programs as a means of official leadership training. As surgical residents continue in their training, they are expected to not only take part in more complicated procedures, but to also serve as leaders in their respective care teams. While surgical skills are intensively taught in surgical residency programs, leadership is often learned informally, to the detriment of residents. Our curriculum was developed and implemented to provide foundational knowledge for surgical residents as they take on senior roles so that they may successfully act as leaders. This educational workshop was effective and efficient and can be applied at other residency programs that seek to improve the leadership skills of their residents. Implementation of a 3-day program focused on leadership, surgical skills, and career development to provide rising PGY-4 surgical residents with the abilities necessary for successful training. This program was implemented at the University of Minnesota General Surgery residency program. Rising PGY-4 general surgery residents. The program consisted of a 3-day workshop which all rising PGY-4 residents participating in before transitioning into their respective roles. The program was led by the general surgery faculty. Curricula focused on developing leadership skills in residents can be effectively applied in a time-efficient manner that can benefit the residents as they move into official leadership roles on the care team.