The Montreal Plastic Surgery Residency Bootcamp: Structure and Utility

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Surgical Education
• Medical Training

Background:

• Transitioning from medical school to surgical residency presents significant challenges.
• The University of Montreal's plastic surgery program introduced a unique 1-month intensive bootcamp to ease this transition.
• This bootcamp is distinguished by its length and comprehensive curriculum among North American plastic surgery residencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive 1-month plastic surgery residency bootcamp.
• To assess the bootcamp's impact on residents' preparation for residency, research, and clinical duties.
• To gather resident feedback on the bootcamp's structure and implementation.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous online survey was administered to plastic surgery residents who completed the bootcamp between 2013 and 2020.
• The survey assessed knowledge in anatomy, surgical skills, common approaches, flap knowledge, and on-call management before and after the bootcamp.
• Seventeen residents (81% response rate) participated in the survey.

Main Results:

• The majority of surveyed residents reported that the bootcamp significantly improved their preparation for residency.
• Residents indicated enhanced knowledge of anatomy and improved surgical skills post-bootcamp.
• Positive feedback was received regarding the bootcamp's structure and overall implementation.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests that surgical residency programs could benefit from implementing similar bootcamp rotations.
• Bootcamps can facilitate the transition from medical school to postgraduate training, ensuring a foundational competence for junior residents.
• Further research is recommended to explore the bootcamp's long-term impact on board certification and fellowship acceptance.