Editorial

Surgical Competence Today: Adopting a Surgical Lifestyle

Authors: Hussain M.A. Abbas, MD, MRCSI, Stanley J. Dudrick, MD

Abstract

Preparing the surgeon of the future is a formidable task with which most training institutions are struggling. In this issue of the SMJ, Page addresses several contentious contemporary issues in general surgical residency training.1 Training hours restrictions, which was thought would decrease attrition rates amongst the general residents, has had very little impact. In fact, attrition rates have continued to rise,2,3 increasing complexity in managing the aging surgical population. To complicate matters further, Bell et al4 demonstrated the discourse between how the surgical residents should be trained and the actual training they receive.

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References

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2. Williams TE, Ellison EC, Satiani B. The coming shortage of surgeons: why they are disappearing and what that means for our health. In press.
 
 
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