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Implementation and Evaluation of an Academic Development Rotation for Surgery Residents.
Michael A Kochis1, David C Cron1, Taylor M Coe2
1Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
Journal of Surgical Education
|September 24, 2024
Summary
A new Academic Development Block (ADB) rotation helps surgical residents prepare for academic careers and professional development time (PDT). This nonclinical rotation improved residents' grant application success and funding, demonstrating its value.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Residency Training
- Academic Career Development
Background:
- Surgical residents require dedicated time and resources to prepare for academic careers and professional development time (PDT).
- Traditional residency programs often lack structured support for early academic development.
- The need for effective strategies to enhance residents' research and grant-writing skills is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design, implement, and evaluate a two-week nonclinical Academic Development Block (ADB) rotation.
- To enhance preparation for postgraduate year (PGY)-2 and -3 surgical residents' dedicated professional development time (PDT) and academic careers.
- To assess the impact of the ADB rotation on residents' academic productivity and career progression.
Main Methods:
- A two-week, nonclinical Academic Development Block (ADB) rotation was implemented for PGY-2 and PGY-3 surgical residents.
- Residents engaged with clinical, research, and peer mentors, focusing on academic activities with class-specific deliverables.
- Feedback was gathered through postrotation surveys and interviews, alongside analysis of resident grant applications and funding data pre- and post-implementation.
Main Results:
- Postrotation surveys showed overwhelmingly positive perceptions of the ADB rotation's value, structure, and resources.
- Residents reported appreciation for dedicated time with mentors, idea development, and academic work completion, accelerating their transition to PDT.
- Cohorts participating in the ADB rotation demonstrated higher grant application success rates and greater total funding awarded compared to pre-implementation cohorts.
Conclusions:
- A protected, nonclinical academic development rotation is a well-regarded intervention for refining residents' career goals and PDT preparation.
- The ADB rotation serves as a marker of institutional commitment to residents' academic career development.
- Similar initiatives can be valuable for residency programs aiming to foster academic growth among residents.
