Department of Surgery ​Conferences

A wide variety of didactic lectures and surgical teaching conferences, attended by both faculty and residents, are part of our training program.

New residents take the Advanced Trauma Life Support Course (ATLS), and all PGY-1s participate in an “Intern Boot Camp,” which teaches critical skills such as central line placement, suturing, and handover communication/management of floor emergencies. A set of core surgical curriculum lectures is also scheduled weekly during July and August for PGY-1-level trainees.

PGY-4 residents participate in the American College of Surgeons “Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma,” a scenario-based course that utilizes cadavers to teach advanced anatomic exposures for trauma.

Trauma/Critical Care Conference

• Attended by trauma and critical care faculty

All aspects of trauma and critical care are discussed, and a resident presents a lecture related to recent cases seen in the trauma center. Additionally, a trauma-specific morbidity and mortality conference is held once a month.

Vascular Conference

• Attended by faculty, fellows, residents, students, nurses, and non-invasive vascular laboratory team

Structured as a roundtable discussion, this is a cross-departmental conference used for planning upcoming complicated cases and follow-up of past cases.

Breast Conference

This multidisciplinary conference discusses cases and management plans for patients.

GI Tumor Board Conference

Various medical options are identified and outlined, helping to enhance skills, improve treatment therapies, and advance and improve clinical care for GI patients.

Clinical Sciences/SCORE Conference

• Attended by faculty and residents

This weekly conference is designed to discuss the areas outlined in The Surgical Council on Resident Education (SCORE) curriculum, which is developed around the six competencies required of a graduating resident: patient care and procedural skills, medical knowledge, professionalism, communication, practice-based learning, and systems-based practice.

Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) Conference

• Mandatory attendance by all residents and surgical faculty

M&M is a weekly conference during which cases are discussed by the primary resident along with indications, complications, and alternative treatments. Discussions are focused on understanding potential pitfalls and preventing future complications.

Unless directly involved with a patient emergency at the time, residents are excused from clinical duties to attend these conferences.

Journal Club

• Attended by faculty and residents

Faculty and residents participate in lively discussions each month regarding current and interesting additions to professional literature from the core surgical journals.