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Rural Surgery Experiences in General Surgery Residency Training-The Current State an ACGME Sponsored Survey of
Stephanie F Heller1, Karen J Brasel2, Sharmila Dissanaike3
1Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; ACMGE Surgery Residency Review Committee, Chicago, Illinois.
Journal of Surgical Education
|January 9, 2025
Summary
General surgery residency programs show varied approaches to rural training. Addressing this variability is key to meeting future rural surgeon workforce needs.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Training
- Rural Health Workforce Development
Background:
- A significant shortage of surgeons exists in rural communities nationwide.
- There is increasing interest in training general surgeons for rural practice.
- Current rural surgery training methods are unclear and inconsistent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To understand the current landscape of rural surgery training options in general surgery residencies.
- To assess the variability in rural surgical training programs.
- To identify barriers to developing rural surgery training.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to all 314 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited surgery programs.
- The survey focused on identifying rural surgery training options within general surgery residencies.
Main Results:
- 130 programs responded, with 37 (28%) offering some rural experience.
- Training structures, durations, and timing varied significantly across programs.
- Lack of funding was the primary barrier identified for developing rural surgery programs.
Conclusions:
- Rural surgery training exhibits considerable variability, from dedicated tracks to elective rotations.
- The current training landscape does not fully align with the demand for rural surgeons.
- There is a need for innovation in rural surgery training to meet workforce demands.
