Demonstrating Excellence in Plastic Surgery Residency

Abstract

Background: Residents can achieve distinction by discerning which areas of achievement are worth additional focus at each stage in training. Our survey examines the perspectives of faculty members affiliated with Accreditation Council for Graduation Medical Education-accredited plastic surgery residency programs regarding qualities indicative of resident excellence. Methods: A survey including Likert scales and rank-ordering was distributed to plastic surgery program directors and faculty with the intent to assess perspectives regarding resident excellence at each stage of training. Responses were analyzed using marginal homogeneity tests and summary tables. Results: In total, 90 respondents completed the survey. An estimated 94.5% believe it is possible for residents to achieve excellence at any stage of clinical training, and 87.7% report their definition of excellence differs by training level. Top three metrics indicative of resident excellence for interns and junior residents were preparation for operative cases, bedside manner, and personality. For seniors: preparation for operative cases, leadership capability, and bedside manner. For chief residents: preparation for operative cases, leadership capability, and technical operative expertise. Conclusions: A resident who displays excellence inspires mentorship, which can propel future career success. Faculty agree excellence can be achieved by residents of any stage, although the qualities that define this evolve by training year. Preparation for operative cases is considered a critical component of resident performance at all levels. Bedside manner and personality are ways intern and junior level residents excel, whereas leadership ability and technical expertise in the operating room become significant in senior and chief trainees.

Where Do Plastic Surgery Leaders Come From? A Cross-sectional Analysis of Research Productivity

“…Furthermore, when program leaders were asked what features made a particular resident excellent, they described traits such as personality, leadership, and case preparation—little mention was made of research productivity. 20…”

“…Furthermore, when program leaders were asked what features made a particular resident excellent, they described traits such as personality, leadership, and case preparation-little mention was made of research productivity. 20 There are an increasing number of publications as physicians progress in their individual training-on average, two publications by general surgery residency graduation (for those who attended) and six publications by plastic surgery residency graduation. Figures 2-4 illustrate the faculty publication count at each of the three graduation milestones.…”

Deconstructing the Excellent Plastic Surgeon: A Survey of Key Attributes

“…When defining an excellent resident at the early years, faculty often deem traits such as bedside manner and personality as the most important, whereas in later years, technical proficiency and leadership capability are more sought after. 11 We present here a list of traits that define an excellent plastic surgeon, including both “hard” and “soft” skills such as technical soundness and compassion. These hard skills such as technical soundness, although important in the practicing plastic surgeon, can typically be improved with practice and repetition.…”

“…[13][14][15] Furthermore, a recent survey of faculty engaged in resident education found that research productivity was one of the least important metrics when considering what defines an excellent resident; rather, traits such as leadership capability, operative expertise, bedside manner, and personality were of most importance. 11 This raises question as to what aspects should be sought after during residency selection, and whether the way we currently select residents is adequately assessing these characteristics.…”

“…As it is primarily academic plastic surgeons who decide what candidates to interview and rank, most practicing plastic surgeons are excluded from the process of resident selection. Further still, the correlation between what academic physicians value in an “excellent resident” and what is selected for during residency selection remain incongruent—a recent survey of faculty members involved in residency education determined that research productivity was one of the lowest-ranked metrics when considering what made a resident “excellent.” 11 This has made it difficult to reach a consensus regarding the attributes that should be valued in residency candidates to produce graduates capable of success in a variety of practice settings.…”