Teaching opportunities

You have the opportunity to supervise and teach Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM) students and visiting student clerks. Teaching occurs through bedside instruction and operative interaction.

Conferences

In addition to clinical experience, didactic training, and special courses, Mayo Clinic offers professional conferences and online learning opportunities. Dozens of online modules meet Joint Commission regulations or Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education recommendations. They teach current best practices in infectious diseases, professionalism, record keeping, and more.

The main teaching conference is the weekly Department of Surgery Education Conference. It brings together all subspecialties within the Department of Surgery. Attending consultants openly critique case presentations by chief residents assigned to general, vascular, and colon and rectal surgery services. Senior-level residents in pediatric, thoracic, transplant, trauma, critical care, and general surgery also present operative lists. These lists undergo scrutiny and educational review.

Additional monthly conferences include staff pathologists and radiologists, and educate surgical residents in managing all facets of patient care. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative lessons are taught.

Morbidity and Mortality conferences are held by the divisions through which residents rotate. These include Trauma/Acute Care, Surgical Oncology, Vascular Surgery, and others. Residents have an active role in presenting at these conferences.

In-training examinations

Each year,  residents take the  American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE). During PGY-4 and PGY-5, residents participate in annual oral clinical examinations. Surgical staff from non-Mayo Clinic institutions conduct these examinations as part of a long-running, multi-institutional tradition. These mock oral exams follow the same format as the American Board of Surgery oral certification examination. They realistically simulate being examined by an unfamiliar surgeon.

Committee assignments

Residents have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of administrative capacities during your training. Additional committees led by residents focus on improving all facets of resident training, from camaraderie to laparoscopy and robotic experiences.

• Class representatives
• Program Evaluation Committee
• Resident Wellness Committee
• Community Outreach Committee