• Amir H Lebastchi, John J Tackett, Michael Argenziano, John H Calhoon, Mario G Gasparri, Michael E Halkos, George L Hicks, Mark D Iannettoni, John S Ikonomidis, Patrick M McCarthy, Sandra L Starnes, Betty C Tong, and David D Yuh.
• Section of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.
• J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 2014 Aug 1; 148 (2): 40815.e1408-15.e1.

ObjectiveThe recently implemented integrated 6-year (I-6) format represents a significant change in cardiothoracic surgical residency training. We report the results of the first nationwide survey assessing I-6 program directors' impressions of this new format.MethodsA 28-question web-based survey was distributed to program directors of all 24 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited I-6 training programs in November 2013. The response rate was a robust 67%.ResultsCompared with graduates of traditional residencies, most I-6 program directors with enrolled residents believed that their graduates will be better trained (67%), be better prepared for new technological advances (67%), and have superior comprehension of cardiothoracic disease processes (83%). Just as with traditional program graduates, most respondents believed their I-6 graduates would be able to independently perform routine adult cardiac and general thoracic operations (75%) and were equivocal on whether additional specialty training (eg, minimally invasive, heart failure, aortic) was necessary. Most respondents did not believe that less general surgical training disadvantaged I-6 residents in terms of their career (83%); 67% of respondents would have chosen the I-6 format for themselves if given the choice. The greater challenges in training less mature and experienced trainees and vulnerability to attrition were noted as disadvantages of the I-6 format. Most respondents believed that I-6 programs represent a natural evolution toward improved residency training rather than a response to declining interest among medical school graduates.ConclusionsHigh satisfaction rates with the I-6 format were prevalent among I-6 program directors. However, concerns with respect to training relatively less experienced, mature trainees were evident.Copyright © 2014 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

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