Development and Implementation of a Nonclinical Professional Development Rotation.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anesthesiology Training
• Professional Development

Background:

• Residency programs face challenges in formally teaching leadership and communication skills.
• A gap exists in structured training for non-clinical professional competencies in anesthesiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a professional development curriculum for first-year anesthesiology residents.
• To address the need for enhanced leadership and communication skills training.

Main Methods:

• A 2-week professional development rotation was implemented for first-year anesthesiology residents at Vanderbilt University Medical Center starting in 2014.
• The curriculum included didactic and experiential sessions led by experts.
• Outcomes were assessed using pre- and postrotation surveys.

Main Results:

• Sixty-nine residents completed the rotation over a 4-year period.
• 82% of surveyed residents (54 of 66) strongly agreed that nonclinical professional development should be part of residency training.
• The curriculum successfully provided a catalyst for professional development.

Conclusions:

• Professional development rotations are a viable strategy to enhance leadership and communication skills in anesthesiology residents.
• Resident feedback strongly supports the integration of non-clinical professional development into formal training.
• This model can serve as a catalyst for improving resident preparedness for future leadership roles.