How To Be a Leader: A Course for Residents

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Residency Training
• Leadership Development

Background:

• Physician leadership is crucial but often underdeveloped during medical training.
• Few formal leadership development programs exist for residents.
• A novel course was created to enhance leadership skills through structured learning and discussion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a new leadership course for surgical residents.
• To assess the impact of the course on residents' leadership qualities and overall experience.

Main Methods:

• Senior residents led weekly lectures based on leadership literature.
• Learned leadership traits were integrated into daily resident activities.
• Pre- and post-course surveys measured changes in leadership skills and perceptions.

Main Results:

• Participants reported increased personal development, team participation, and ease in finding answers.
• Significant improvements were noted in team collaboration and work-life balance.
• The course positively impacted residents' leadership capabilities.

Conclusions:

• A novel leadership course effectively enhanced leadership skills among senior surgical residents.
• The program contributed to a more cohesive, efficient, and supportive residency environment.