Blending Life and the Scalpel: A Financial Literacy Workshop for the Transition Beyond Training

Although surgical training programs have formalized curricula for professional knowledge and skills acquisition, there is still a gap in nonclinical knowledge that surgical trainees suffer when transitioning to practice (TTP). Financial literacy is one topic that has been identified by both trainees and program directors as a high-yield topic for TTP. Traditionally, surgical trainees relied on formative experience, self-motivated learning, or one-off local institutional efforts. Due to the high demands of time in surgical training and the frequent accumulation of large amounts of educational debt during this process, financial well-being may be neglected, which can lead to professional and personal stress and burnout. The paucity of formal education on this TTP topic causes surgical graduates to rely on informal mentorship during contract negotiation or expensive legal advice. This situation jeopardizes long-term recruitment and retention of surgeons from nonprivileged backgrounds who are less likely to have access to robust informal financial literacy resources. Financially literate surgeons are more likely to enjoy careers that have longevity and high overall career satisfaction. The topic of financial literacy was the focus of a Hot Topic session during the 2025 Academic Surgical Congress. This article covers the content included in that session, including TTP challenges, employment contract basics, negotiation, compensation models, and insurance. This serves as a real-world guide for those who are preparing for TTP or those interested in supporting the recruitment and retention of the next generation of surgical trainees.