Not all learning can be gleaned from the bedside or texts. A strong didactic component of the resident education process is essential to teaching excellence in patient care. To complement these educational sources, the Department of Surgery has created a three-faceted educational program: conferences, oral presentations and written presentations of clinical information.

Conferences are divided into departmental and surgical specialty conferences. A Conference Curriculum Committee includes senior level residents, the surgery residency coordinator, the program director and associate program directors. This committee is responsible for designing the curriculum that will cover a broad spectrum of topics most useful to the educational component of the residency. The conference schedule has been developed for a 24-month cycle using the SCORE Curriculum. All categorical residents are required to attend 75% of departmental conferences as mandated by the ACGME Residency Review Committee for Surgery. Residents also attend specialty conferences specific to their clinical rotation. The conference format varies from the formal presentations of patients and discussion of disease processes in General Surgery Conference to Grand Rounds to the debate format.

General Surgery Resident Conference, 2-hour session

The first hour, or Flex Hour Conference, is a forum for residents in conjunction with faculty moderators to lead an in-depth, evidence-based and interactive discussion of topics of interest to general surgical trainees and practicing surgeons, as well as to cover key components of the surgical curriculum. The resident flex hour covers a host of formats including Grand Rounds, Mock Orals, Practice of Surgery, Journal Club and ABSITE Reviews (Surgical Jeopardy) and Ethics Conference, just to name a few. 

The second hour is the Junior Level Conference and Senior Level Conference. Residents meet in separate locations during this hour, at which time faculty members present topics that are more level-specific.

Every Wednesday morning, 7-9 a.m. (Labor Day to the conclusion of the academic year)

Morbidity and Mortality Conference

All deaths and complications occurring at medical center hospitals during the previous weeks are discussed.

Every Tuesday, 5-6 p.m.

Surgical Skills Laboratory Sessions

Surgical technique is taught not only through operative experience that junior residents obtain, but also in weekly hands-on skills sessions, in our surgical skills laboratory. The scope of these sessions includes instrument choice and use, basic suturing and stapling techniques, a curriculum in basic and advanced laparoscopic techniques, and sessions covering techniques and procedures using simulated and animal models. Residents are divided into two groups, juniors and seniors. During these two-hour sessions, residents participate in dry, animal or cadaver labs that are taught by faculty and are level-specific. 

Every Wednesday, 9-11 a.m. (Labor Day to the conclusion of the academic year)