Jennifer A. Swanson

Improving surgery intern confidence through the implementation of expanded orientation sessions

BACKGROUND New surgical interns may be unprepared for job-related tasks and harbor anxiety that could interfere with job performance. To address these problems, we extended our intern orientation with the principal aim of demonstrating the need for expanded instruction on execution of daily tasks. Additionally, we sought to show that an enriched orientation curriculum durably augments intern confidence. METHODS Twenty-one surgical interns participated in an extended orientation program, consisting of interactive didactics, case scenario presentations, and small group discussions. Evaluations collected at completion of orientation and 1-month follow-up assessed self-reported confidence levels on job-related tasks before, immediately afterward, and 1-month after orientation. Statistical analyses were performed using Student t tests (P < .05 significant). RESULTS Self-reports of confidence on job-related tasks before the orientation sessions were low; however, program participation resulted in immediate confidence increases in all areas. Evaluations at 1-month follow-up showed persistence of these gains. CONCLUSION Interns reported considerable anxiety in all job-related tasks before orientation. After the sessions, confidence levels were significantly and durably improved in all areas. Our findings suggest the need for specific instruction on job-related tasks of surgical internship and demonstrate the effectiveness of an expanded orientation in improving intern confidence in execution of these tasks.

A multi-institutional survey of newer surgery faculty on the impacts of education debt and debt repayment strategies.

BACKGROUND The cost associated with becoming a physician is significant, and studies have shown that surgeons, in particular, accrue higher debts than matched controls from other specialties, and the public. These findings, along with the current era of economic turmoil, prompted our investigation into the effects of educational debt on the career, family and lifestyle choices of recently graduated surgeons. Our goal was to query young surgical faculty about the education debt carried, the burden it presents as they embark on a career, and the financial management strategies employed to pay down their debt. STUDY DESIGN This study is a one-time, cross-sectional survey of regular and adjunct faculty from the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic-Rochester. Participation was voluntary and responses were collected anonymously via SurveyMonkey. Respondents were sorted into two groups: those with and without education debt at the time of residency graduation. We compared these groups on a number of variables. RESULTS Of the 111 respondents (111/152, 73% response rate), 69 (62.2%) carried debt at the time of graduation from residency. The median educational debt at graduation was

Increasing the Lung Donor Pool: Recruitment of the Gift of Life

100,000, and surgeons with educational debt carried a significantly higher burden of consumer and total debt than those without educational debt at graduation (p < 0.001). This continued after graduation with 74% (51/69) of residents with debt at graduation falling below the benchmark 36% debt-to-income ratio, and 45% (17/32) of those without debt at graduation in this same high risk financial situation. CONCLUSIONS Educational debt places a large financial responsibility on the shoulders of most newer faculty. The debt-to-income ratio demonstrated through our results was considerable for both study groups, and unwise according to financial literature. This is of utmost importance to leaders in academe, as salaries are generally lower than private practice colleagues. This can begin in residency with explicit and practical information on surgeon reimbursement, income ranges, and revenue sources (faculty, clinical), debt repayment strategies, and overall training on financial matters early in their residency.

The Significant Impact of a Competency-Based Preparatory Course for Senior Medical Students Entering Surgical Residency

Lungs suitable for organ donation are a scarce resource. Recent efforts with alternative ventilatory strategies have yielded promise to the potential expansion of lungs suitable for transplantation.