Leadership Development in Colorectal Surgery, Rising in the Ranks, and Career Promotion

Leadership and purposeful development of these skills are key to growing in one's career. As the definition of leader continues to evolve, there are various domains in which a rise in the career ranks can manifest in a colon and rectal surgery career. These paths are numerous and should be individualized to personal interests and career goals, and can include both traditional academic positions and roles in administration, education, research, societies, or industry. Here, we provide an overview of resources, networks, and skills to leverage in the pursuit of career advancement. A proactive approach is optimal to enable a trajectory of leadership advancement, combining leadership experiences with specific education and strategic pursuit of opportunities at the next level. Mentorship and sponsorship are essential to career-building at all levels. Our perspectives and advice as both early (S.S.H.) and mid-career (J.S.D.) academic colon and rectal surgeons are woven into this curated literature review of this topic.