Outcomes of the Early Specialization Program in Vascular Operation

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Vascular Surgery Training
• Residency Programs

Background:

• The Early Specialization Program (ESP) in vascular surgery (VS) was initiated in 2003 as a pilot program.
• Limited published data exists on the outcomes of the ESP in VS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of the Early Specialization Program (ESP) in vascular surgery (VS).
• To assess the case logs and certification status of ESP participants compared to national contemporaries and their graduating classes.

Main Methods:

• Data was collected from nine institutions participating in the ESP.
• Included were demographics, case logs (CLs) of participants and their GS residency classmates, national CLs, and certification data.
• Analysis compared percentile rankings and performance as a percentage of the mean for graduating classes.

Main Results:

• Of 26 ESP completers, participants ranked higher than the 73rd percentile nationally for surgeon-chief cases and 49th for total major cases.
• Participants performed 143.7% of their graduating class mean for surgeon-chief cases and 105% for total major cases.
• All 26 completers achieved VS certification, and 24 of 26 obtained General Surgery (GS) certification.

Conclusions:

• The Early Specialization Program (ESP) is an effective pathway for surgeons seeking dual GS and VS certification.
• Despite its infrequent use, the ESP facilitates successful completion of both general surgery and vascular surgery training.