• Erika K Bisgaard, Megan K Moore, Kathryn M Stadeli, Cara Y Champan, Shwetha H Sanapoori, Veronika A Lobova, Katrina Tate, and Rebecca G Maine.
• From the Departments of Surgery (Bisgaard, Champan, Sanapoori, Maine), University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
• J. Am. Coll. Surg. 2023 Aug 1; 237 (2): 280290280-290.

BackgroundSurgical culture is often referenced but not well defined. Recent research and changing policies in graduate medical education have influenced the training paradigm and expectations of surgical trainees. It is unclear how these changes impact surgeons' understanding of surgical culture today and how those views impact surgical training. We sought to understand surgical culture and its impact on training from the perspective of a diverse group of surgeons with varied amounts of experience.Study DesignA series of semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 surgeons and trainees in a single academic institution. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using directed content analysis.ResultsWe identified 7 major themes that impact surgical culture. Cohorts were separated by those who had been promoted to at least associate professor (late-career surgeons) and assistant professors, fellows, residents, and students (early-career surgeons). Both cohorts similarly emphasized patient-centered care, hierarchy, high standards, and meaningful work. Late- and early-career surgeons highlighted themes differently: late-career surgeons' perceptions were informed by experience and focused on challenges, complications, humility, and work ethic, while perceptions of early-career surgeons were more individually focused and referenced being goal-oriented and self-sacrificing, and focus on education and work-life balance.ConclusionsLate- and early-career surgeons both emphasize that patient-centered care is core to surgical culture. Early-career surgeons expressed more themes related to personal well-being, while late-career surgeons emphasized themes related to professional accomplishment. Differences in the perceived culture can lead to strained interactions between generations of surgeons and trainees, and a better understanding of these differences would lead to improved communication and interactions between these groups, as well as better management of expectations for surgeons in their training and career.Copyright © 2023 by the American College of Surgeons. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

21 keywords...

hide…