Conferences

The development of a resident into a skilled general surgeon requires extensive experience in the operating room as well as a structured academic environment that will provide the knowledge required to make appropriate decisions in patient management in a timely fashion. An extensive academic curriculum has been developed and forms the nidus around which the residents’ knowledge base develops.

Surgical Grand Rounds

On a weekly basis between September and June the Department of Surgery conducts a formal grand rounds conference, held in the hospital auditorium. A variety of topics pertinent to surgeons are presented throughout the year by attending physicians and visiting professors. Visiting professors also interact with the residents at an informal case conference and social gathering the evening prior to the grand rounds presentation. In addition, each chief general surgery resident and specialty surgical resident presents a lecture at this conference. These sessions are extraordinarily well done and are the highlight of the chief resident’s experience as an educator.

Mortality & Morbidity – Matrix Conference

The Surgical Mortality & Morbidity (M&M) Conference is one of the major conferences for the residents and staff of the Department of Surgery. The senior resident attending the patient at the time of the mortality or morbidity is responsible for the presentation.

At this conference, mortalities, as well as significant morbidities, are discussed in the context of the clinical care provided. The audience actively participates in an interchange of opinions and knowledge. Each presentation is referenced to the surgical literature so that the educational experience will be enhanced.

Curriculum conferences

Basic science and clinical curriculum conferences are held weekly on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. A monthly hand surgery lecture and/or review of CAQ questions are led by our chief of hand surgery, Lawrence Weiss, MD.

Indications conferences

Monthly sessions are held with our core faculty, who present cases to each resident and discuss work-up, treatment and post-operative care.

Journal club

On a monthly basis pertinent articles selected by the program director are reviewed. Each resident is assigned a paper to present to the group. The ensuing discussion is focused on critical review of the construct as well as the content of the article presented.

This conference is intended to reinforce the value of reading the current journals so that the resident will remain a life-long student.