Evolution of a Novel Business Leadership Course for General Surgery Chief Residents

Background General surgery chief residents are typically well equipped for board examinations but poorly trained to deal with the business challenges of surgical practice. We began a business leadership course to better prepare them for their careers. Methods Chief residents were given one-hour lectures with topics that included: Differences between private/academic practice, personal finances, contracts, practice management, legal issues and health law, and time management. Results Initial evaluations revealed that the topics covered and the presentations were well received. Subsequently, the course was moved to earlier in the academic year to prepare them for contract negotiations and then to Sunday nights to decrease interruptions and allow spouse participation. Conclusions The course evolved into a program that the chief residents feel is an important addition to their education. Moving the meetings to a weekend evening improved attendance, decreased interruptions, and allowed participation by spouses and significant others.