Didactic training

Clinical conferences, seminars, small discussion groups, journal clubs, and one-on-one instruction are an integral part of Mayo Clinic's General Surgery Residency. All residents are required to attend these sessions:

• Morbidity and Mortality Conference (weekly)
• Surgical Basic Science Program (weekly)
• Surgical Grand Rounds (weekly)
• Gastroenterology and Surgery Conference (monthly)
• Journal club (monthly)
• Simulation center (twice monthly)

Conferences

• Morbidity and Mortality Conference. This weekly conference reviews cases of interest for faculty review and resident education concerning problems in patient management. All residents are expected to participate in case presentation and review.
• Surgical Basic Science Program. You receive basic science instruction in topics such as wound healing, immunology, infections, and organ system pathophysiology. You are given a copy of the program reference text when you arrive at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. An expert teaching physician in the field being reviewed is invited to attend to supervise each session and give a didactic lecture in addition to the teaching performed by the senior residents. Additional educational lectures may be distributed among the junior residents.
• Surgical Grand Rounds. Held once a week, this conference is given by consultants and visiting professors. Topics are chosen to be both educational reviews and presentations of advances in the current state of the art. Visiting professors are invited to give Grand Rounds at least five times annually.
• Gastroenterology and Surgery Conference. This monthly conference is a combined interaction between the surgery, gastroenterology, radiology, and pathology departments. Cases with pertinent teaching points and reviews of the current literature are presented. Surgery residents and gastroenterology fellows are expected to present one case a year in association with a surgery and gastroenterology attending physician. A list of key topics is maintained to ensure all pertinent topics are covered.
• Journal club. Held quarterly, journal club covers articles from the current literature, which are selected by the consultant and resident for critical review. Each resident is expected to present four articles at one journal club per academic year. Journal clubs are held at attending physicians' homes.

During each subspecialty rotation, you also attend that subspecialty's weekly schedule of journal clubs, didactic presentations, and multidisciplinary conferences dealing with patient management problems.