Educational research and training innovation in cardiothoracic surgery: A year in review

Abstract

, it has been an exciting year for the field. However, this volume of research renders it difficult to keep abreast with the latest innovations in education. This year alone in CT surgery, there were 35 education-focused abstracts, 24 sessions oriented toward emerging technology, and more than 180 sessions devoted to surgical skills and simulations. Many studies explored the role of technology-based tools in augmenting CT surgery training. These were applied to the field broadly, within subspecialties, and at all levels of medical training from medical student to senior attending. Research also grappled with how to best enhance recruitment of students into CT surgery. It is these advances in education that will prove vital to the future of CT surgery education. Reflecting on the extensive scholarly work published and presented at the major CT surgical conferences, the aim of this paper is to explore the education highlights of the 2017 to 2018 academic year and provide commentary on where the field may be headed. EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ACROSS THE FIELD OF CT SURGERY Structure of the Field Many researchers over the course of the year investigate how the field of CT surgery is changing and how trainees in particular are responding. The presence of physician extenders within CT surgery has increased in recent years. A national survey assessing opinions of physician extender involvement showed that overall impression is favorable but that their role can occasionally impede resident education, especially in regard to patient management on the ward. 1 In regard to training structure, residents appear to prefer traditional programs to the integrated 6-year (I-6) program. The most common reasons given for not applying to the I-6 program were lack of commitment to CT surgery as a medical student and uncertainty of adequacy of I-6 training-from the belief that general surgery training is more well-rounded. 2 For general thoracic surgery, the 4/3 and traditional programs were the preferred and more common route compared with the I-6 residents, who nearly all were set on a cardiac career (adult or congenital). 2,3 I-6 programs also increase concern about decreased general surgery operative volume, which emphasizes the need for cooperation and communication between integrated and categorical program directors to ensure adequate training for all residents. 4 Understanding the advantages and challenges of the various educational paradigms, programs continue to modify and improve their curriculum to better address the perceived needs of the specialty and those of the trainees. Support for Residents' Transition to Training and to Practice Research this year focused on understanding how to better support CT surgery residents. Throughout the conferences this year, many sessions were oriented toward

The introduction of surgical simulation on three-dimensional-printed models in the cardiac surgery curriculum: an experimental project

“…Training in cardiac surgery and in congenital heart surgery requires enormous technical skills, which are acquired only with repeated procedures 14 . This is generally not possible in the operating room because of the limited possibilities available to young surgeons.…”

“…Two different types of programs have been only with repeated procedures. 14 This is generally not possible in the operating room because of the limited possibilities available to young surgeons. The ability to practice outside the operating room can improve surgical technique and enhance the learning of residents in a cardiac surgery training program.…”

Change in the SBCCV’s Medical Residency Program — Perspectives of the Specialty and Challenges of Young Surgeons

“…This scenario is no longer future, it is happening now and with solid signs of growth and application also in cases of medium risk in younger patients (below 60 years of age) with promising results. New technologies in full development are signaling the need for surgeons with a new training profile [ 17 , 18 ] . In recent data from the SBCCV, it was found that 55% of Brazilian cardiovascular surgeons in activity are over 60 years of age.…”

“…An important law of life determines that survival is not the preserve of the strongest, but of those who have the greatest capacity to adapt. It will be essential to become competent in the execution of these new procedures based on new technologies [ 18 , 19 ] . This will require more training time of one to two years invested in the subspecialties of cardiovascular surgery after completion of residency [ 15 ] .…”

Stochastic hybrid decision‐making based on interval type 2 fuzzy sets for measuring the innovation capacities of financial institutions

“…Similar to these studies, Fu (2018), Hughes et al (2019) and Li et al (2018) also underlined the significance of this issue. In addition, Hunt et al (2019), López‐García et al (2019) and Mohan, Strobl, and Watson (2018) stated that providing the necessary training to staff will increase the success of this process. Also, García‐González and Ramírez‐Montoya (2019), Gómez, Zabala‐Iturriagagoitia, and Larrakoetxea (2018) and Nan (2019) and also reached the similar conclusions in their studies.…”