Characterizing the Role of Surgical Vice Chair of Education: Stakeholder Needs and Current Practices

The role of a Department of Surgery (DoS) Vice Chair of Education (VCE) is a relatively new position intended to address the many changes and initiatives in medical education. The primary responsibilities and functions of a surgical VCE are not well described in the literature. This study examines the perceptions of stakeholders and current VCEs to develop a newly established position of VCE within an academic DoS.

We conducted semistructured interviews of 13 faculties in our DoS. Each of these faculties hold the role of fellowship or residency program director. We also interviewed 13 VCEs from other departments within the same hospital system. Transcripts of these interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, comparing the data gathered from the two populations.

There was a consensus of positivity about the new VCE position by the stakeholders with some residual uncertainty about how it would affect their work. Four themes resulted from analysis of stakeholder interviews including advocacy for education, balance of clinical, research, and educational duties, departmental integration, and faculty development as educators. Three themes were generated from analysis of interviews of VCEs including leverage of experience, framework establishment, and leadership in education.

Although exact VCE roles and responsibilities will be department dependent, this study may help other institutions craft their VCE positions and create a framework for understanding important stakeholder views.