Mining for Gold: A Mixed-Methods Study on Personal Statements in General Surgery Residency Applications.

Introduction: As numeric data are becoming increasingly scarce in general surgery residency applications, the personal statement (PS) may be key to identifying candidates to interview. This study sought to determine if PSs of candidates invited for interview at our residency program had different qualities when compared to those not invited.

Materials And Methods: This single-institution study retrospectively reviewed the PSs of applications for a categorical general surgery position (2022).

Seeing is Believing - A Qualitative Study Exploring What Motivates Medical Students to Pursue a Career In General Surgery.

Objective: The personal statement (PS) is a rich text in which medical students introduce themselves to the programs to which they are applying. There is no prompt or agreed upon structure for the personal statement. Therefore it represents a window in to medical students' beliefs and perceptions.

A machine learning framework for optimizing obesity care by simulating clinical trajectories and targeted interventions.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the important clinical management bottlenecks that contribute to underuse of weight loss surgery (WLS) and assess risk factors for attrition at each of them.

Methods: A multistate conceptual model of progression from primary care to WLS was developed and used to study all adults who were seen by a primary care provider (PCP) and eligible for WLS from 2016 to 2017 at a large institution. Outcomes were progression from each state to each subsequent state in the model: PCP visit, endocrine weight management referral, endocrine weight management visit, WLS referral, WLS visit, and WLS.

Intern Experience Reflects Information Gathered During the Virtual Interview Process.

Objective: The onset of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought many changes to the residency application process including transitioning to a virtual interview platform, which continues today. The transition brought many concerns from general surgery applicants about their ability to obtain adequate information about a program virtually. We sought to characterize how information presented by programs during the first ever virtual interview cycle matched the experience of general surgery interns after training at a program for 1 year.

Our Efforts to Create a Welcoming Surgical Residency for LGBTQ Trainees.

Objective: To provide a more welcoming environment for LGBTQ residents.

Design: This paper is based upon the authors experience creating a training program welcoming to LGBTQ residents.

Setting: University General Surgery Training Program.

Update on the Financial Well-Being of Surgical Residents in New England.

Background: Poor personal financial health has been linked to key components of health including burnout, substance abuse, and worsening personal relationships. Understanding the state of resident financial health is key to improving their overall well-being.

Study Design: A secondary analysis of a survey of New England general surgery residents was performed to understand their financial well-being.

An Interval Look at the Transplant Surgery Pipeline: Insights from General Surgery Residents' Operative Experience Using ACGME Operative Logs from 2000 to 2021.

Objective: Given the declining number of US graduates pursuing transplant surgery as well as regulatory changes regarding transplant rotations for surgical residents, this study examined the transplant surgery operative volume of residents over the past 20 years.

Design: Retrospective analysis of the ACGME database of general surgery operative logs from academic year (AY) 1999-2000 to AY 2020-2021; data was categorized into time periods relative to regulatory changes: Period 1 (1999-2010) and Period 2 (2011-2021).

Setting/participants: All ACGME-accredited general surgery residency programs in the US.

The Association Between Virtual Interviewing and Geographical Distribution of Matched Residency Programs for General Surgery Applicants.

Objective: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coalition for Physician Accountability's work group on Medical Students in the class of 2021 made the recommendation in May of 2020 that the upcoming residency recruitment cycle be conducted virtually. This flexibility may have allowed applicants to apply and interview at programs with less regard to geography, knowing that travel costs of interviewing would not be a factor. Alternatively, applicants who interviewed virtually could choose to remain in a close proximity to their home institutions where they likely have a greater comfort level and familiarity with the community both personally and professionally.

Comparison of weight loss outcomes between Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy in a racially mixed urban patient population.

Background: National data show a trend favoring laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) over Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Published data demonstrating the differences in weight loss between the two procedures are mixed.

Objective: In this retrospective study using clinical data from 2010 to 2020, we compared the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients undergoing either SG or RYGB to evaluate their long-term weight loss outcomes.

Update on the Personal and Professional Well-Being of Surgical Residents in New England.

Background: Surgical culture has shifted to recognize the importance of resident well-being. This is the first study to longitudinally track regional surgical resident well-being over 5 years.

Study Design: An anonymous cross-sectional, multi-institutional survey of New England general surgery residents using novel and published instruments to create three domains: health maintenance, burnout, and work environment.

Frequency and Characteristics of Social Media Use among General Surgery Trainees.

Introduction: With increased social isolation due to COVID-19, social media has been increasingly adopted for communication, education, and entertainment. We sought to understand the frequency and characteristics of social media usage among general surgery trainees.

Materials And Methods: General surgery trainees in 15 American training programs were invited to participate in an anonymous electronic survey.

Creating a Welcoming Surgery Residency Training Program for LGBTQ Trainees.

General Surgery residencies have been perceived as unwelcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) applicants. Historically, applicants have been reluctant to reveal their LGBTQ status when interviewing for residency positions and LGBTQ surgery residents are more likely to consider leaving their residency. Despite the increased acceptance in society and calls for diversity by governing bodies, there is a perception that the field of surgery is lagging behind.

The impact of English proficiency on outcomes after bariatric surgery.

Background: Several studies demonstrated language that discordant care between may lead to mixed outcomes and increased use of hospital-resources. In the setting of bariatric surgery, which relies heavily on intensive pre-operative and post-operative counseling, we hypothesized that patients with LEP would have less favorable outcomes compared to English-proficient (EP) patients.

Methods: All patients 18 years and older, who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGBP) from January 2013 to December 2017 were included.

Application of the Caprini Risk Assessment Model to Select Patients for Extended Thromboembolism Prophylaxis After Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Background: The Caprini risk assessment model is a well-validated tool that identifies patients who would benefit from extended venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis beyond hospital discharge. VTE, particularly portal mesenteric vein thrombosis (PMVT), is a potentially devastating complication of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG); therefore, we sought to examine whether the model can be safely applied to LSG patients. We hypothesized that its use can minimize the incidence of postoperative VTE, including PMVT, without increasing the likelihood of bleeding complications.

Elevator Cabin Decontamination With ACTIVE Particle Control™ Technology.

Effectively reducing contamination and aerosolized bioburden may limit the risk of disease transmission in closed settings when social distancing is not possible. Unlike uncontrolled ionization and oxidation devices ACTIVE Particle Control™ conditions particles in a highly controlled fashion which provides effective air purification without the generation of ozone or other toxic by-products. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of ACTIVE Particle Control™ on elevator cabin particle load compared to standard ventilation.

Efficacy of a resident-as-teacher program (RATP) for general surgery residents: An evaluation of 3 Years of implementation.

Background: Teaching is a responsibility of general surgery residents and formal teaching instruction is mandated. This study examines the efficacy of a formal RATP incorporated into our general surgery residency curriculum.

Methods: The RATP was developed locally and delivered longitudinally over the course of the academic year, starting in 2017.

Structuring Research Rotations to Facilitate Surgery Residents' Academic Productivity.

Objective: We sought to enhance opportunities for general surgery residents to conduct research during residency without having to take dedicated time out of clinical training. To this end, we created structured research rotations to facilitate and support resident research.

Design: Research blocks of four week's duration were introduced for categorical interns and post-graduate year (PGY) 4 residents.

Association of Bariatric Surgery With Vascular Outcomes.

Importance: Bariatric surgical weight loss is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality; however, the mechanisms underlying this association are incompletely understood.

Objectives: To identify variables associated with vascular remodeling after bariatric surgery and to examine how sex, race, and metabolic status are associated with microvascular and macrovascular outcomes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based longitudinal cohort included 307 individuals who underwent bariatric surgery.

Outcomes in Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Implications for Surgical Resident Education.

Objectives: Some surgery residents feel inadequately prepared to perform advanced operations, partly due to losing operative opportunities to fellows. In turn, they are prompted to pursue fellowships. Allowing residents the opportunity to participate in advanced procedures and complex cases may alleviate this cycle, if their participation is safe.

Impact of fellow compared to resident assistance on outcomes of minimally invasive surgery.

Introduction: As fellowship training after general surgery residency has become increasingly common, the impact on resident education must be considered. Patient safety and procedure outcomes are often used as justification by attendings who favor fellows over residents in certain minimally invasive surgery (MIS) operations. The aim of the present study was to compare the impact of trainee level on the outcomes of selected MIS operations to determine if giving preference to fellows on grounds of outcomes is warranted.

Surgical management of obstructing clot at the jejunojejunostomy after gastric bypass: a single center experience and literature review.

Background: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a proven treatment for morbid obesity and its sequelae. Gastric bypass has a safe risk profile, but postoperative complications can be seen. We report on 10 cases of postoperative bleeding causing an obstructing clot at the jejunojejunostomy (JJ) occurring over a 9-year period.