One of the primary educational goals of the surgical residency program is to foster an atmosphere of critical thought and self-improvement in all resident teaching activities. All teaching conferences, rounds, and symposia stress the principles of practice-based learning.
Protected Academic Time
Alternating Wednesday and Thursday mornings are reserved for lectures and skills center sessions.
Lectures: Boston Medical Center follows the SCORE curriculum. All readings and quizzes are assigned before the sessions. Additionally, practice-building and nontechnical skill-building programs are offered, including a Real-World Curriculum, a Resident-as-Teacher Program, and a Geriatrics Curriculum.
Surgical Simulation: Residents participate in simulation-focused learning at our state-of-the-art Solomont Simulation Center. The curriculum, which focuses on both technical and nontechnical skill development, is tailored to different levels of expertise and is led by expert faculty members. Skill sessions provide ample opportunity for hands-on practice and one-on-one coaching.
The simulation center is available to residents for additional practice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Residents are expected to attend all lectures and skill center sessions. Floor pagers and consult pagers are covered by midlevel providers during academic conferences to avoid disruptions.
Residents are expected to attend all lectures and skill center sessions. Floor pagers and consult pagers are covered by midlevel providers during academic conferences to avoid disruptions.
Progress: To allow residents and the program to gauge residents’ readiness for the American Board of Surgery Qualifying and Certifying Examinations, all residents are expected to take the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE). Senior residents (PGY 3-5) also participate in mock oral examinations, which are held annually. Written, individualized feedback on performance is provided to each resident.
Another assessment, a multistation Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), is held annually for all residents in the simulation center. The OSCE stations encompass both hands-on and non-technical skills assessments, including encounters with standardized patients.
Morbidity and Mortality Conference (all integrated and affiliated institutions)
Morbidity and Mortality conference is held weekly. Critical evaluation of the management of cases is stressed in this forum. Residents present the cases and include a discussion of relevant literature. Cases are selected for educational value as an important part of the quality improvement program of the hospital.
Surgical Grand Rounds (all integrated and affiliated institutions)
Grand Rounds occur at least monthly. A subject of surgical importance is presented and discussed in depth by experts in the field who are usually visiting from outside the institution.
Visiting Professorship Programs (BMC)
Each year, the Department of Surgery sponsors a variety of visiting professorships in the areas of Trauma (Clowes Visiting Professorship), Vascular Surgery (The Smithwick Visiting Professorship), and Surgical Oncology (The Mozden Visiting Professorship). In addition, the Grasberger Research Symposium is held each spring.
Each of the professorships takes place over a two-day period, during which the visiting professor interacts with residents and students in a variety of settings, including clinical rounds, clinical seminars, case presentations, and scientific seminars. Attendance is mandatory for all surgical residents, and elective surgery is limited during the visiting professorships. During this time the visiting professor interacts with residents and students in a variety of settings, including clinical seminars, case presentations, and scientific seminars.
Surgical Quality Improvement Conference (BMC)
This conference occurs monthly. The conference discusses initiatives by the Department of Surgery to improve outcomes and the quality of care for surgical patients.
Division Conferences (BMC)
Vascular Conference
Vascular conference is held weekly by faculty members of the Smithwick (Vascular) service. Open and endovascular cases are presented by the residents and fellows. Management of the cases is discussed.
Acute Care and Trauma Surgery Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conference
Acute Care and Trauma Surgery M&M is held every Tuesday. All cases of morbidity or mortality that have occurred over the prior week are discussed in detail, including a review of pertinent literature. Some of these cases will in turn be presented the following week at the Department of Surgery Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conference.
Trauma/Emergency Department Grand Rounds
The Department of Emergency Medicine residents present two formal monthly trauma cases to the Emergency Department and Acute Care and Trauma Surgery Department staff. A thorough review of the literature is included during each presentation. Aspects of prehospital care, emergency department management and surgical care is discussed in detail.
Trauma Video Conference
The Acute Care and Trauma Surgery Department gives at least one formal trauma case presentation monthly before an audience of Emergency Department and Acute Care and Trauma Surgery staff. Staff from Lahey Clinic Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital join via video connection and also present a trauma case. Each case presentation includes evidence-based discussions, review of the trauma literature, and outcome discussions.
Trauma/Radiology Department Conference
In this monthly session, a collaboration between the Acute Care and Trauma Surgery Department and the Department of Radiology, relevant diagnostic studies are reviewed and discussed.
Surgical Critical Care Lecture Series (BMC)
For all residents, students, and fellows rotating in the intensive care unit, one hour of every day is devoted to topics relevant to critical care.
Monday – Critical care topics presented by faculty
Tuesday – Critical care topics presented by faculty
Wednesday – Allied health care lectures (organ bank, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, nutrition) or Journal Club
Thursday – Neurocritical care topics presented by neurocritical care faculty
Friday – Lectures presented by critical care fellow. One Friday per month is devoted to Surgical Intensive Care Unit Morbidity and Mortality Conference.
Surgical Oncology Conferences (BMC)
Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Conference
During this weekly, multidisciplinary breast cancer conference, the entire team collaborates on a comprehensive evaluation and plans the best, most individualized treatment regimen and follow-up care for patients with breast cancer. Through ongoing communication with the patient and his or her primary care provider, everyone is kept up to date and informed.
GI/Hepatobiliary Conference
In this weekly working conference, eight patients with hepatobiliary pathology are reviewed. Diagnostic and therapeutic issues are discussed and management decisions are made by the multidisciplinary group.
Thoracic Oncology Conference
During this weekly, multidisciplinary conference, patients with lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and other thoracic malignancies are reviewed and treatment plans are generated. Clinical trial accrual is discussed at each meeting. Occasional didactic and research talks are also incorporated.
Colorectal Tumor Board
In this weekly working conference, six to 12 patients with colorectal tumors are reviewed. Diagnostic and therapeutic issues are discussed and management decisions are made by the multidisciplinary group.
Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System Conferences
Morning Report (daily 7-8 AM M-Thurs and 8-9 AM Fri)
Conducted by the Chief of Surgery at the Veterans Administration Boston Healthcare System and attended by all faculty and residents. All patients admitted to the surgical service are reviewed. Residents must demonstrate a critical understanding of the data available on each case as well as be able to justify current management.
Resident Curriculum Conference (9-10 AM Fri)
Assigned SCORE content is reviewed and discussed in a round-table format.
Quality Improvement Conference (4-5 PM Wed)
All complications, deaths, and readmissions are discussed within the context of processes and systems of care to identify areas for potential practice-based improvement using the best possible evidence.
Pre-operative Conference (12-1 PM Fri)
Preparation of the surgical patient, choice of surgery, and planned postoperative care are discussed in detail on scheduled general surgery cases by residents and faculty over lunch every Friday.
Multidisciplinary Tumor Board (4-5 PM alternating Thurs)
Complex cancer patients are presented at this forum.
Grand Rounds (7-8 AM Fri)