What makes a "great resident": the resident perspective.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Orthopedic Surgery Training

Background:

• Selecting high-performing residents for demanding orthopedic surgery programs is challenging for program directors.
• Defining the characteristics of an exceptional resident is complex, with anecdotal evidence suggesting key personal qualities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the qualities associated with high-performing orthopedic surgery residents.
• To review the limited literature on what constitutes a "great" resident.
• To incorporate the resident's perspective on desirable traits.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on resident selection and performance metrics.
• Discussion of anecdotal evidence regarding qualities of successful residents.
• Inclusion of resident viewpoints on essential characteristics for training success.

Main Results:

• Qualities such as trustworthiness, hard work, efficiency, self-directed learning, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills are anecdotally linked to resident success.
• These traits are considered difficult to teach and are likely cultivated before and during medical school.
• Residents with these characteristics tend to exhibit higher professionalism and achieve better objective outcomes (e.g., OITE scores, evaluations, publications).

Conclusions:

• The ideal orthopedic surgery resident possesses a combination of innate personal qualities and learned professional behaviors.
• These foundational characteristics are crucial for navigating the rigors of residency and achieving success.
• Further research is needed to fully understand and objectively measure the attributes of a "great" resident.