Defining Honors in the Surgery Clerkship

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Assessment and Evaluation

Background:

• The highest grade in core surgery clerkships (honors) lacks published criteria, leading to inconsistent assignment.
• This variability impacts residency selection, class standing, and student guidance.

Framework:

• A modified Delphi technique involving surgery program and clerkship directors was employed.
• Two parallel cycles were used to achieve expert consensus on defining honors student characteristics.

Implementation:

• Participants included 15/15 invited clerkship directors and 14/15 invited program directors.
• Consensus was reached on 10 identical characteristics, including communication skills, exam scores, and clinical acumen.

Implications:

• Establishing clear criteria for honors grades enhances assessment reliability in surgical education.
• These defined characteristics can reduce grade inflation and provide a consistent benchmark for excellence.