Teaching opportunities

You have the opportunity to supervise and teach Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine students and visiting student clerks through bedside instruction, operative interaction, and formal didactic lectures.

Conferences

In addition to clinical experience, didactic training, and special courses, Mayo Clinic offers a wide variety of professional conferences and online learning. Whether as part of Joint Commission regulations or Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education recommendations, dozens of online modules teach current best practices for infectious diseases, professionalism, record keeping, and more.

The main department teaching conference is the weekly General Surgery Grand Rounds, which is a common meeting ground for all of the subspecialties within the Department of Surgery. Attending consultants openly critique case presentations by chief residents who are assigned to the general surgery, vascular surgery, and colon and rectal surgery services. Additionally, senior-level residents in pediatric, thoracic, transplant, and trauma, critical care, and general surgery present their operative lists for scrutiny and education. After discussing the management issues involving patients on such services, staff members make a formal didactic presentation on an area of their expertise.

Monthly video teleconferences with staff and residents from Mayo Clinic's campuses in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Jacksonville, Florida, in general, endocrine and vascular surgery provide education for staff and residents about diverse and difficult surgical problems.

Additional conferences, which include staff pathologists and radiologists, are held monthly to educate surgical residents in managing all facets of patient care, with preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative lessons all being taught.

Case studies

During your residency, you frequently prepare case study presentations. You present pertinent information from an interesting case and conduct an in-depth discussion of that case using evidence-based material.

In-training examinations

Each year, you take the written American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE). During PGY-4 and PGY-5, you participate in oral clinical examinations given by Mayo Clinic's surgical staff. These mock oral exams use the same format as the oral certification examination given by the American Board of Surgery.

Committee assignments

You are given an opportunity to gain experience in a number of administrative capacities during your training. Class representatives meet with the General Surgery Residency Committee each month to improve the surgical program. Additional committees led by residents focus on improving all facets of resident training, from camaraderie to laparoscopy and robotic experiences.