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What makes a Cardiothoracic training program great? For many it means that the program “leads” the field in surgical knowledge, blazing a path towards discovery. To others it means the program trains future surgeons well by teaching them how to operate. Still others feel it is a program with a rich history and an esteemed group of surgeons on its board …the list could go on and on. The Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education (JCTSE) recently has begun to focus on identifying areas within surgical education that makes a program stand above the rest.
To some, searching for what makes a Cardiothoracic program “great” is purely subjective like a quest for the world’s greatest donut. The goal here is not to form a simple rank list of the most outstanding CT programs; rather, the JCTSE aims to identify traits of programs that support the American Board of Thoracic Surgery’s mission to “protect the public by establishing and main
taining high standards in thoracic surgery.” The mere ranking of programs in a neat and orderly line likely does not hold much educational purpose. The identification of “great” traits though, does have purpose and will help deliver specific goals from broad educational principals.
The JCTSE and the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA) have recently taken a first step in collecting these traits of greatness by sending out
a preliminary survey to current cardiothoracic (CT) residents. The survey consisted of 50 questions addressing the relative importance of multiple aspects of CT surgery training programs and initial findings varied from the expected to the surprising. Traditional areas of importance such as the reputation of the program, the expectation of trainees functioning as operating surgeon, help in finding employment and a high volume and complexity of cases were at the top
of the list. Surprisingly, other areas queried such as the program’s facilities or if the program is 2 or 3 years were not felt to be important in making a program “outstanding” by current CT residents.
Now that this preliminary data has been collected, a more scientific survey is being developed to administer to future generations of CT residents. The data from which may ultimately serve as a useful guide to “raise all boats” towards greatness in Cardiothoracic training.
What makes a Cardiothoracic training program great? For many it means that the program “leads” the field in surgical knowledge, blazing a path towards discovery. To others it means the program trains future surgeons well by teaching them how to operate. Still others feel it is a program with a rich history and an esteemed group of surgeons on its board …the list could go on and on. The Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education (JCTSE) recently has begun to focus on identifying areas within surgical education that makes a program stand above the rest.
To some, searching for what makes a Cardiothoracic program “great” is purely subjective like a quest for the world’s greatest donut. The goal here is not to form a simple rank list of the most outstanding CT programs; rather, the JCTSE aims to identify traits of programs that support the American Board of Thoracic Surgery’s mission to “protect the public by establishing and main
taining high standards in thoracic surgery.” The mere ranking of programs in a neat and orderly line likely does not hold much educational purpose. The identification of “great” traits though, does have purpose and will help deliver specific goals from broad educational principals.
The JCTSE and the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA) have recently taken a first step in collecting these traits of greatness by sending out
a preliminary survey to current cardiothoracic (CT) residents. The survey consisted of 50 questions addressing the relative importance of multiple aspects of CT surgery training programs and initial findings varied from the expected to the surprising. Traditional areas of importance such as the reputation of the program, the expectation of trainees functioning as operating surgeon, help in finding employment and a high volume and complexity of cases were at the top
of the list. Surprisingly, other areas queried such as the program’s facilities or if the program is 2 or 3 years were not felt to be important in making a program “outstanding” by current CT residents.
Now that this preliminary data has been collected, a more scientific survey is being developed to administer to future generations of CT residents. The data from which may ultimately serve as a useful guide to “raise all boats” towards greatness in Cardiothoracic training.
What makes a Cardiothoracic training program great? For many it means that the program “leads” the field in surgical knowledge, blazing a path towards discovery. To others it means the program trains future surgeons well by teaching them how to operate. Still others feel it is a program with a rich history and an esteemed group of surgeons on its board …the list could go on and on. The Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education (JCTSE) recently has begun to focus on identifying areas within surgical education that makes a program stand above the rest.
To some, searching for what makes a Cardiothoracic program “great” is purely subjective like a quest for the world’s greatest donut. The goal here is not to form a simple rank list of the most outstanding CT programs; rather, the JCTSE aims to identify traits of programs that support the American Board of Thoracic Surgery’s mission to “protect the public by establishing and main
taining high standards in thoracic surgery.” The mere ranking of programs in a neat and orderly line likely does not hold much educational purpose. The identification of “great” traits though, does have purpose and will help deliver specific goals from broad educational principals.
The JCTSE and the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA) have recently taken a first step in collecting these traits of greatness by sending out
a preliminary survey to current cardiothoracic (CT) residents. The survey consisted of 50 questions addressing the relative importance of multiple aspects of CT surgery training programs and initial findings varied from the expected to the surprising. Traditional areas of importance such as the reputation of the program, the expectation of trainees functioning as operating surgeon, help in finding employment and a high volume and complexity of cases were at the top
of the list. Surprisingly, other areas queried such as the program’s facilities or if the program is 2 or 3 years were not felt to be important in making a program “outstanding” by current CT residents.
Now that this preliminary data has been collected, a more scientific survey is being developed to administer to future generations of CT residents. The data from which may ultimately serve as a useful guide to “raise all boats” towards greatness in Cardiothoracic training.