Creating a Needs Based Curriculum to Support General Surgery Preliminary Residents.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Residency Programs

Background:

• Non-designated preliminary residents (NDPRs) are crucial in general surgery programs.
• NDPRs often face unique challenges and require targeted support.
• Existing support structures may not fully address the specific needs of NDPRs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the needs of non-designated preliminary residents (NDPRs) within a general surgery residency.
• To develop and pilot a needs-based peer support program for NDPRs.
• To enhance the overall experience and career success of NDPRs.

Main Methods:

• A needs assessment was conducted with former NDPRs from the past 7 years.
• Feedback was gathered on recruitment, rotations, support, mentorship, and career progression.
• A year-long curriculum was developed based on resident input, including protected meeting time.

Main Results:

• Key areas for improvement included tailored schedules and timely letters of recommendation.
• Transparency regarding role expectations and advancement to categorical positions was a recurrent theme.
• A structured support program with peer mentorship and faculty guidance was implemented.

Conclusions:

• NDPRs require institutional support and mentorship for successful career development.
• The piloted support program provides a framework that can be adapted to individual residency program needs.
• Formalized support can significantly enhance the preliminary residency experience.