Dr. Richard Bosshardt

And then in the third and fourth years, you start to operate more, but you're always operating under the direct supervision of a senior resident or an attending, attending a fully trained surgeon. And again, you're having your hands held. I mean, they have to let you work. They got to put the knife in your hand. But they have to be good enough to do that and keep you out of trouble.

And if you get in trouble, to get you out of trouble. And so you spend those three to four years kind of honing your skills. And then in the fifth year, when you are what we call a chief resident, you're basically regarded as being a surgeon. And you do your cases, you assist the younger surgeons in their cases.

And if you get in trouble, to get you out of trouble. And so you spend those three to four years kind of honing your skills. And then in the fifth year, when you are what we call a chief resident, you're basically regarded as being a surgeon. And you do your cases, you assist the younger surgeons in their cases.

And if you get in trouble, to get you out of trouble. And so you spend those three to four years kind of honing your skills. And then in the fifth year, when you are what we call a chief resident, you're basically regarded as being a surgeon. And you do your cases, you assist the younger surgeons in their cases.

And the only time you call an attending surgeon in is if you're doing something very major, very complex, or if you haven't done this before. And so at the end of that fifth year, you should be able to walk out of the hospital and go anywhere and operate as a general surgeon and function fully independently. A study done in 2014 in the Annals of Surgery reported that 80% of patients

And the only time you call an attending surgeon in is if you're doing something very major, very complex, or if you haven't done this before. And so at the end of that fifth year, you should be able to walk out of the hospital and go anywhere and operate as a general surgeon and function fully independently. A study done in 2014 in the Annals of Surgery reported that 80% of patients

And the only time you call an attending surgeon in is if you're doing something very major, very complex, or if you haven't done this before. And so at the end of that fifth year, you should be able to walk out of the hospital and go anywhere and operate as a general surgeon and function fully independently. A study done in 2014 in the Annals of Surgery reported that 80% of patients

80%. Fellowships and whatever. Thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, colorectal, you name it. And that was in 2014, right? They surveyed program directors. These are the chiefs, the heads of surgical programs to find out what these residents that they were getting, what these surgeons that they were getting in Phillips were like.

80%. Fellowships and whatever. Thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, colorectal, you name it. And that was in 2014, right? They surveyed program directors. These are the chiefs, the heads of surgical programs to find out what these residents that they were getting, what these surgeons that they were getting in Phillips were like.

80%. Fellowships and whatever. Thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, colorectal, you name it. And that was in 2014, right? They surveyed program directors. These are the chiefs, the heads of surgical programs to find out what these residents that they were getting, what these surgeons that they were getting in Phillips were like.

They found that that 66% of them could not be relied upon to operate independently for more than about 30 minutes. that something like 30% or so could not handle tissues in a manner that was appropriate, atraumatically, if you will. 20-30% couldn't sew properly. Close to the same number couldn't identify the early signs of a complication. Some could not identify an anatomical tissue plane.

They found that that 66% of them could not be relied upon to operate independently for more than about 30 minutes. that something like 30% or so could not handle tissues in a manner that was appropriate, atraumatically, if you will. 20-30% couldn't sew properly. Close to the same number couldn't identify the early signs of a complication. Some could not identify an anatomical tissue plane.

They found that that 66% of them could not be relied upon to operate independently for more than about 30 minutes. that something like 30% or so could not handle tissues in a manner that was appropriate, atraumatically, if you will. 20-30% couldn't sew properly. Close to the same number couldn't identify the early signs of a complication. Some could not identify an anatomical tissue plane.

These are people that are graduates of general surgery residencies coming out of these programs and going to fellowships. The saddest thing is that when they survey the young surgeons themselves and say, well, why are you going into this fellowship instead of going out and practicing? More than half say it's because they did not feel comfortable.

These are people that are graduates of general surgery residencies coming out of these programs and going to fellowships. The saddest thing is that when they survey the young surgeons themselves and say, well, why are you going into this fellowship instead of going out and practicing? More than half say it's because they did not feel comfortable.

These are people that are graduates of general surgery residencies coming out of these programs and going to fellowships. The saddest thing is that when they survey the young surgeons themselves and say, well, why are you going into this fellowship instead of going out and practicing? More than half say it's because they did not feel comfortable.

operating independently after five years of training. So there's something very wrong with the training they're getting. They're not getting enough cases to do. They're not being allowed to operate. In some places, the attending surgeons are very hesitant to hand over a case to a younger surgeon. because number one, they're responsible for that case.

operating independently after five years of training. So there's something very wrong with the training they're getting. They're not getting enough cases to do. They're not being allowed to operate. In some places, the attending surgeons are very hesitant to hand over a case to a younger surgeon. because number one, they're responsible for that case.

operating independently after five years of training. So there's something very wrong with the training they're getting. They're not getting enough cases to do. They're not being allowed to operate. In some places, the attending surgeons are very hesitant to hand over a case to a younger surgeon. because number one, they're responsible for that case.

Number two, you're never going to be as efficient or fast as a young surgeon as you will later on when you've had more experience. So it takes longer and it impacts your day, your schedule. It's sad because they recognize this. I mean, these young surgeons recognize this.