The path to becoming an academic surgeon is long and arduous. Years of intense study during undergraduate and medical school, followed by a 5-7 year residency and frequently fellowship training lead to a path that sets our profession apart from most others. While the volume of knowledge and experience gained during these formative years is tremendous, our education and professional development continues well beyond our training and throughout our entire career. Much attention has been paid to improving residency training and medical student education; however little work has focused on educating surgeons in practice until recently.
With a shift in focus from continuing medical education to continuous professional development, it is clear that academic surgeons must strive to be lifelong learners. However, the opportunities for professional education and adoption of new techniques and procedures are becoming increasingly limited. Creative and innovative approaches to surgeon education are increasing the learning opportunities available for academic and community surgeons currently in practice. Surgical coaching, statewide and nationwide quality collaboratives, and social media are some of these new models for surgeon education. At the 2015 Academic Surgical Congress in Las Vegas, the Education Committee Session will feature a panel of prestigious and accomplished speakers discussing these topics.
The ASC will be held from February 3-5, 2015 in Las Vegas, NV at the Encore hotel. The Education Committee Session will take place on Thursday, February 5th from 12-1:30. For more information on the ASC please visit the website. We look forward to seeing you all in Las Vegas in 2015.
Scope of Practice for Volunteer Surgeons in Developing Countries