Reform of the 3rd cycle in surgery training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• The 2017 reform of France's 3rd cycle of medical studies replaced time-based qualifications with skills-based training.
• This initiative involved 13 French surgical specialty Colleges in defining surgeon competencies and sub-specialty training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the historical context and implications of the French medical studies reform.
• To detail changes in surgical training and identify areas needing careful consideration.
• To examine the reform's impact on the second cycle of medical studies and national examinations.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of the reform's development.
• Review of changes in surgical specialty training models.
• Discussion of the reform's impact on medical student progression and specialty choice.

Main Results:

• The reform established consistent and equitable training for future specialists.
• It fostered collaborative efforts among surgical colleges to define competencies.
• A concurrent reform of the second cycle aims to mitigate the "guillotine effect" of national exams.

Conclusions:

• The reform aligns well with the goal of progressive skills acquisition in surgical education.
• It provides a framework for defining and structuring surgical sub-specialty training.
• Further development is needed for the second cycle reform to better guide students toward specialties.