Return to the Real World: A Novel Program to Improve Resident Readiness for the Transplant Surgery Rotation.

Objective: We describe a novel didactic program to prepare mid-level residents for the operative complexities of the transplant surgery rotation.

Design: A faculty led dry and wet lab experience was held for all residents returning to clinical rotations from a 2-year research experience. Residents were provided instructional video prior to the dry lab and instructed through both labs by transplant faculty and fellows. The culmination of the program entailed a porcine renal autotransplantation.

Setting: The University of Cincinnati, Department of Surgery, Cincinnati, OH.

Participants: Incoming third year general surgery residents returning to clinical rotations from a 2-year research experience.

Results: This lab was well received by residents and faculty and increased confidence in residents.

Conclusions: This program increased confidence in complex operations seen on the transplant surgery rotation and can be replicated in a cost-effective manner.