Regional mock oral board exercises improve first-time pass rates for board certification in general surgery

Regional mock oral board exercises, known as regional mobs, can be effectively conducted in a multi-institutional setting to prepare chief residents in general surgery for the American Board of Surgery certifying examination. These exercises expose residents to unfamiliar proctors and diverse contexts, closely resembling the actual exam. The study reports high satisfaction rates from faculty and trainees who participated in regional mobs, and findings suggest that these exercises have a positive impact on improving residents’ first-time pass rates for board certification.