Sense of Belonging from Celebrated Identity: Getting to Know Interns Through Surgical Grand Rounds

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Resident Well-being

Background:

• Surgical residency is demanding and isolating, increasing burnout risk.
• A sense of belonging and peer support are crucial for resident well-being and retention.
• Interventions are needed to foster community and support early in surgical training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an "Incoming Intern Grand Rounds Quick Talk" session on fostering belonging.
• To evaluate the session's effect on interns' transition and connection within the Department of Surgery.
• To determine if this intervention can improve departmental culture and resident well-being.

Main Methods:

• Incoming general, plastic, and vascular surgery interns presented personal introductions during Grand Rounds.
• Interns received templates, practice sessions, and feedback prior to their presentations.
• A post-session survey evaluated perceived impact on belonging, connections, and departmental culture.

Main Results:

• All interns reported positive contributions to departmental culture and improved residency transition.
• The session enhanced feelings of connection with co-interns and a sense of belonging.
• Qualitative feedback highlighted appreciation for being known as individuals and strengthened cohort bonds.

Conclusions:

• A structured introduction session at Grand Rounds effectively fostered belonging, connection, and value among new surgical interns.
• This scalable intervention can help surgical programs build community and support resident well-being from training's start.
• The initiative positively impacted departmental culture and eased the transition into residency.