A new initiative to support pregnant surgical residents demonstrates that personalized approaches can create sustainable culture changes in training programs. Implementing a pregnancy curriculum resulted in significant institutional changes to support pregnant residents. Acknowledging the individuality of residents can enhance recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented minorities in surgery. Surgeons should consider how tailored […]

Surgeons must adapt their leadership approach to emphasize situational influence rather than control to enhance team dynamics and patient outcomes. Investing in leadership development programs during training can foster this shift. The transition from theoretical knowledge to practical leadership skills is crucial for ongoing professional development in surgery. This shift can improve collaboration and decision-making […]

Preoperative single-dose glucocorticoids significantly reduce postoperative complications and length of stay in major gastrointestinal surgery without increasing surgical risks. Total postoperative complications decreased by 31% (OR 0.69), and infectious complications decreased by 38% (OR 0.62). Length of stay was shortened by approximately 1 day on average. Consider incorporating single-dose glucocorticoids into your preoperative protocols to […]

A focused 5-hour palliative care curriculum for surgical residents leads to significant improvements in attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding palliative care. Overall survey scores rose from 3.56 to 3.92 (p = .008) after curriculum participation. Knowledge scores improved from 3.32 to 3.73 (p = .011), and behavior scores from 3.28 to 3.44 (p = .023). […]

Surgical innovation must be guided by value-based care principles to truly enhance patient outcomes and equity. New technologies like AI and robotics alone do not guarantee improved safety or quality; their adoption must be coupled with rigorous outcome evaluations. Value-based care emphasizes integrating new tools with a focus on effective resource use and patient-centered outcomes, […]

Recognizing leadership as a core competency for all physicians can significantly enhance patient outcomes and team effectiveness. Leadership influences daily clinical interactions but is often undervalued in medical training. A new framework proposes structured leadership development across four domains: self, others, teams, and organizations. This approach aligns with accreditation standards and aims to cultivate physician […]

The introduction of a global budget model in Pennsylvania rural hospitals failed to improve short-term outcomes for cancer surgery patients. Among over 17,000 cancer surgery admissions, the model did not change rates of 30-day or 90-day mortality, readmission, or other composite outcomes. Results were consistent across multiple cancer types and patient cohorts. Surgeons should consider […]

A national survey reveals that the median scheduled workload for surgeons is over 68 hours per week, with 58% reporting this as excessive, which has implications for workforce planning and surgeon well-being. Only 36.6% of surgeons found their workload manageable, highlighting a potential risk to patient safety and surgical outcomes. Perceived burden correlates with cumulative […]