Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Join for the fifth episode in the Association of Out Surgeons and Allies (AOSA) series for a comprehensive discussion of what the general surgeon needs to know prior to operating on a patient who has previously undergone gender affirming surgery.

Host: 
Dan Scheese, MD
Andrew Schlussel, DO, Colorectal and General Surgeon, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center

Guests:
Dr. Megan Lane (She/her)
[email protected]
Dr. Lane is a plastic surgery resident at the University of Michigan who is planning on going into Gender Affirming Surgery and general reconstruction. She completed a research fellowship in the National Clinician Scholars Program and focused primarily on patient-reported outcomes in gender affirming surgery.

Dr. Amy Suwanabol
[email protected]
Dr. Suwanabol is a colorectal surgeon at the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor VA. She assists the gender affirming surgeons at the University of Michigan in performing robotic-assisted vaginoplasty. Her research focuses on optimizing quality of life among surgical patients and their families, surgeon well-being, and cancer survivorship.

Dr. Monica Llado-Farrulla
[email protected]
Dr. Llado-Farrulla was born and raised in Puerto-Rico, completed general surgery residency followed by plastic surgery residency at Tulane and Penn, respectively. She pursued a year of training in advanced gender surgery and is now currently at OHSU. Her practice largely focuses on facial feminization, chest affirming surgeries, phalloplasty, autologous breast reconstruction, and limb salvage. 

Learn more and get involved with AOSA: https://www.outsurgeons.org

Twitter/X: @OutSurgeons

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  

If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen

Have you ever been confused about the concept of brain death, or struggled to explain brain death to a patient’s family or your fellow clinicians? Join the Behind the Knife Surgical Palliative Care team and our special guest, neurologist & neurointensivist Dr. Sarah Wahlster, as we explore the 2023 Pediatric & Adult Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Consensus Practice Guideline and what this updated guideline means for our practice in surgical palliative care!

Hosts:
Dr. Katie O’Connell (@katmo15) is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington in the division of Trauma, Burn, and Critical Care Surgery. She is a trauma surgeon, palliative care physician, Director of Surgical Palliative Care, and founder of the Advance Care Planning for Surgery Clinic at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA.

Dr. Virginia Wang is a PGY-3 General Surgery resident at the University of Washington.

Guest:
Dr. Sarah Wahlster (@SWahlster) is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Washington. She is a neurologist, neurointensivist, and Program Director of the Neurocritical Care Fellowship at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA.

Learning Objectives:
·      Understand the concept of assent and how it can be helpful in communicating with families of patients who have sustained brain death
·      Explain the main steps required for diagnosis of brain death (prerequisites, clinical exam, apnea testing, ancillary testing)
·      Understand key differences between the 2023 guideline and previous (2010 & 2011) guidelines
·      Be able to name the 3 accepted modalities of ancillary testing for brain death
·      Know basic communication best practices with families of patients who have sustained brain death from the surgical palliative care perspective (consistency of language & messaging; avoidance of phrases such as “life-sustaining treatment”, “comfort-focused measures”)

References:

1.     Greer, D. M., Kirschen, M. P., Lewis, A., Gronseth, G. S., Rae-Grant, A., Ashwal, S., Babu, M. A., Bauer, D. F., Billinghurst, L., Corey, A., Partap, S., Rubin, M. A., Shutter, L., Takahashi, C., Tasker, R. C., Varelas, P. N., Wijdicks, E., Bennett, A., Wessels, S. R., & Halperin, J. J. (2023). Pediatric and Adult Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Consensus Guideline. Neurology, 101(24), 1112–1132. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000207740

2.     Lewis, A., Kirschen, M. P., & Greer, D. (2023). The 2023 AAN/AAP/CNS/SCCM Pediatric and Adult Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Consensus Practice Guideline: A Comparison With the 2010 and 2011 Guidelines. Neurology. Clinical practice, 13(6), e200189. https://doi.org/10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200189

3.     AAN Interactive Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Evaluation Tool – https://www.aan.com/Guidelines/BDDNC

4.     AAN Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Checklist – https://www.aan.com/Guidelines/Home/GetGuidelineContent/1101

5.     Kirschen, M. P., Lewis, A., & Greer, D. M. (2024). The 2023 American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, Child Neurology Society, and Society of Critical Care Medicine Pediatric and Adult Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Determination Consensus Guidelines: What the Critical Care Team Needs to Know. Critical care medicine, 52(3), 376–386. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0000000000006099

6.     Greer, D. M., Shemie, S. D., Lewis, A., Torrance, S., Varelas, P., Goldenberg, F. D., Bernat, J. L., Souter, M., Topcuoglu, M. A., Alexandrov, A. W., Baldisseri, M., Bleck, T., Citerio, G., Dawson, R., Hoppe, A., Jacobe, S., Manara, A., Nakagawa, T. A., Pope, T. M., Silvester, W., … Sung, G. (2020). Determination of Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria: The World Brain Death Project. JAMA, 324(11), 1078–1097. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.11586

7.     Lele, A. V., Brooks, A., Miyagawa, L. A., Tesfalem, A., Lundgren, K., Cano, R. E., Ferro-Gonzalez, N., Wongelemegist, Y., Abdullahi, A., Christianson, J. T., Huong, J. S., Nash, P. L., Wang, W. Y., Fong, C. T., Theard, M. A., Wahlster, S., Jannotta, G. E., & Vavilala, M. S. (2023). Caseworker Cultural Mediator Involvement in Neurocritical Care for Patients and Families With Non-English Language Preference: A Quality Improvement Project. Cureus, 15(4), e37687. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.37687

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  

If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen

Does the adult thymus have a purpose and function? Are there any long-term health effects of thymectomy? Tune in to another Swedish Thoracic surgery journal review where we discuss the recent paper out of the NEJM which reports on the health consequences of thymus removal in adults. This paper has been widely picked up by the media and our patients frequently bring it into the office. Listen as we discuss the study population, methods, and potential applications of this paper.

Learning Objectives:

- Review the purpose and function of the thymus.
- Discuss the population, methods, and results of this trial.
- Discuss the application of this paper and how it may or may not impact clinical practice for thoracic surgeons. 

Hosts:

Chloe E. Hanson, MD, PGY-3
Kelly Daus MD, PGY-4
Peter White, MD, Thoracic Surgery Attending
Brian Louie, MD, Thoracic Surgery Attending

Reference Material:

Kooshesh KA, Foy BH, Sykes DB, Gustafsson K, Scadden DT. Health Consequences of Thymus Removal in Adults. N Engl J Med. 2023;389(5):406-417.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37530823/

Lin TM, Chang YS, Hou TY, et al. Risk of incident autoimmune diseases in patients with thymectomy. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2020;7(7):1072-1082.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32478484/

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  

If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen

Making a discovery that changes how we practice is one of the most exciting things about the fields of medicine and surgery. In this episode, join endocrine surgeons Drs. Barb Miller, John Phay, Priya Dedhia, and Surgical Oncology Fellow Dr. Samantha Ruff from The Ohio State University. Hear Dr. Phay tell the story of how parathyroid autofluorescence was discovered and the work that has gone on since that day. The group discusses several articles focusing on intraoperative adjuncts used to identify parathyroid tissue during thyroid and parathyroid surgery. 

Hosts: Barbra S. Miller, MD (Moderator), Clinical Professor of Surgery, John Phay, MD, Clinical Professor of Surgery, Priya H. Dedhia, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Samantha Ruff, MD, Surgical Oncology Fellow, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.

Twitter handles: 
Barbra Miller - @OSUEndosurgBSM
John Phay – @JohnPhayMD
Priya Dedhia – @priyaknows 
Samantha Ruff - @SamRuff_MD

Learning objectives: 
1) Understand the background of the discovery of parathyroid autofluorescence
2) Describe various intraoperative adjuncts utilized to identify parathyroid tissue
3) Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of using autofluorescence versus indocyanine green for identification of parathyroid tissue  
4) Recognize the impact of use of intraoperative imaging adjuncts on postoperative hypocalcemia (short and long-term)
5) Understand the general safety issues for the parathyroid imaging techniques discussed

References:
1. Benmiloud, F., G. Godiris-Petit, R. Gras, et al., Association of Autofluorescence-Based Detection of the Parathyroid Glands During Total Thyroidectomy With Postoperative Hypocalcemia Risk: Results of the PARAFLUO Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg, 2020. 155(2): p. 106-12 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.4613. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31693081/

2. Kahramangil, B. and E. Berber, Comparison of indocyanine green fluorescence and parathyroid autofluorescence imaging in the identification of parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy. Gland Surg, 2017. 6(6): p. 644-8 DOI: 10.21037/gs.2017.09.04. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29302480/

3. Paras, C., M. Keller, L. White, et al., Near-infrared autofluorescence for the detection of parathyroid glands. J Biomed Opt, 2011. 16(6): p. 067012 DOI: 10.1117/1.3583571. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21721833/

4. Vidal Fortuny, J., V. Belfontali, S.M. Sadowski, et al., Parathyroid gland angiography with indocyanine green fluorescence to predict parathyroid function after thyroid surgery. Br J Surg, 2016. 103(5): p. 537-43 DOI: 10.1002/bjs.10101. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26864909/

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  

If you liked this episode, check out other Behind the Knife endocrine episodes: https://behindtheknife.org/podcast-category/endocrine/

What is the best surgical treatment for a vasculopathy with critical limb threatening ischemia? In this episode of Behind the Knife the vascular surgery subspecialty team discusses two pivotal trials (BEST-CLI and BASIL-2) and how the findings of these trials can help answer this question. In this episode, we will discuss the age old question: open bypass versus best endovascular treatment. 

Hosts: 

• Dr. Bobby Beaulieu is an Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at the University of Michigan
• Dr. Frank Davis is an Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at the University of Michigan
• Dr. David Schechtman is a Vascular Surgery Fellow at the University of Michigan
• Dr. Drew Braet is a PGY-4 Integrated Vascular Surgery Resident at the University of Michigan

Learning Objectives

• Review the definition, prevalence, and prognosis of critical limb threatening ischemia
• Review basic treatment options for patients with critical limb threatening ischemia
• Understand the methodology, findings, limitations, and clinical applications of the BEST-CLI trial
• Understand the methodology, findings, limitations, and clinical applications of the BASIL-2 trial
• Compare open bypass and best endovascular therapy for patients with critical limb threatening ischemia

References

• Farber A, Menard MT, Conte MS, Kaufman JA, Powell RJ, Choudhry NK, Hamza TH, Assmann SF, Creager MA, Cziraky MJ, Dake MD, Jaff MR, Reid D, Siami FS, Sopko G, White CJ, van Over M, Strong MB, Villarreal MF, McKean M, Azene E, Azarbal A, Barleben A, Chew DK, Clavijo LC, Douville Y, Findeiss L, Garg N, Gasper W, Giles KA, Goodney PP, Hawkins BM, Herman CR, Kalish JA, Koopmann MC, Laskowski IA, Mena-Hurtado C, Motaganahalli R, Rowe VL, Schanzer A, Schneider PA, Siracuse JJ, Venermo M, Rosenfield K; BEST-CLI Investigators. Surgery or Endovascular Therapy for Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia. N Engl J Med. 2022 Dec 22;387(25):2305-2316. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2207899. Epub 2022 Nov 7. PMID: 36342173. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36342173/
• Bradbury AW, Moakes CA, Popplewell M, Meecham L, Bate GR, Kelly L, et al. A vein bypass first versus a best endovascular treatment first revascularisation strategy for patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia who required an infra-popliteal, with or without an additional more proximal infra-inguinal revascularisation procedure to restore limb perfusion (BASIL-2): an open-label, randomised, multicentre, phase 3 trial. The Lancet. 2023. 401(10390), 1798-1809. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00462-2
• Conte MS Bradbury AW Kolh P et al. Global vascular guidelines on the management of chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2019; 58 (109.e33.): S1-109 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31182334/
• Bradbury AW Adam DJ Bell J et al. Multicentre randomised controlled trial of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a bypass-surgery-first versus a balloon-angioplasty-first revascularisation strategy for severe limb ischaemia due to infrainguinal disease. The bypass versus angioplasty in severe ischaemia of the leg (BASIL) trial. Health Technol Assess. 2010; 14: 1-210 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20307380/
• Adam DJ Beard JD Cleveland T et al. Bypass versus angioplasty in severe ischaemia of the leg (BASIL): multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2005; 366: 1925-1934 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16325694/
• Bradbury AW Adam DJ Bell J et al. Bypass versus angioplasty in severe ischaemia of the leg (BASIL) trial: an intention-to-treat analysis of amputation-free and overall survival in patients randomized to a bypass surgery-first or a balloon angioplasty-first revascularization strategy. J Vasc Surg. 2010; 51: 5S-17 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20435258/
• Conte MS, Bradbury AW, Kolh P, White JV, Dick F, Fitridge R, Mills JL, Ricco JB, Suresh KR, Murad MH; GVG Writing Group. Global vascular guidelines on the management of chronic limb-threatening ischemia. J Vasc Surg. 2019 Jun;69(6S):3S-125S.e40. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2019.02.016. Epub 2019 May 28. Erratum in: J Vasc Surg. 2019 Aug;70(2):662. PMID: 31159978; PMCID: PMC8365864. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31159978/
• Menard MT, Rosenfield K, Farber A. The BEST-CLI Trial: Implications of the Primary Results. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2023 Mar;65(3):317-319. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2022.12.032. Epub 2023 Jan 6. PMID: 36621707. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36621707/

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  

If you liked this episode, check out other vascular surgery episodes: https://behindtheknife.org/podcast-category/vascular/

If you operate for long enough, chances are you will come across the unique, and potentially daunting scenario of operating on a pregnant patient. If, and when, you do, would you know what to do? Join University of Washington and MIS faculty Drs. Andrew Wright, Nicole White, and Nick Cetrulo, and residents Drs. Ben Vierra and Paul Herman as they discuss non-obstetric surgery in the pregnant patient so that you will be better informed when the challenge arises.

Hosts:
1. Andrew Wright, UW Medical Center—Montlake and Northwest, @andrewswright
2. Nick Cetrulo, UW Medical Center—Northwest, @Trules25
3. Nicole White, UW Medical Center—Northwest, @NicoleWhiteTho1
4. Paul Herman, UW General Surgery Resident PGY-3, @paul_herm
5. Ben Vierra, UW General Surgery Resident PGY-2

Learning Objectives
1. Describe important physiologic changes in pregnancy that are relevant for the surgeon to know.
2. Review the epidemiology of non-obstetric general surgery in the pregnant patient.
3. Discuss specific imaging considerations in the pregnant patient.
4. Become more familiar with the technical aspects of approaching a typical surgical case in a pregnant patient.

References
1. Pearl, J.P., Price, R.R., Tonkin, A.E. et al. SAGES guidelines for the use of laparoscopy during pregnancy. Surg Endosc 31, 3767–3782 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-017-5637-3
2. Vasileiou G, Eid AI, Qian S, Pust GD, Rattan R, Namias N, Larentzakis A, Kaafarani HMA, Yeh DD; EAST Appendicitis Study Group. Appendicitis in Pregnancy: A Post-Hoc Analysis of an EAST Multicenter Study. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2020 Apr;21(3):205-211. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31687887/
3. Dongarwar D, Taylor J, Ajewole V, Anene N, Omoyele O, Ogba C, Oluwatoba A, Giger D, Thuy A, Argueta E, Naik E, Salemi JL, Spooner K, Olaleye O, Salihu HM. Trends in Appendicitis Among Pregnant Women, the Risk for Cardiac Arrest, and Maternal-Fetal Mortality. World J Surg. 2020 Dec;44(12):3999-4005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32737556/
4. Fong ZV, Pitt HA, Strasberg SM, Molina RL, Perez NP, Kelleher CM, Loehrer AP, Sicklick JK, Talamini MA, Lillemoe KD, Chang DC; California Cholecystectomy Group. Cholecystectomy During the Third Trimester of Pregnancy: Proceed or Delay? J Am Coll Surg. 2019 Apr;228(4):494-502.e1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30769111/
5. Hong J, Yang J, Zhang X, Su J, Tumati A, Garry D, Docimo S, Bates AT, Spaniolas K, Talamini MA, Pryor AD. Considering delay of cholecystectomy in the third trimester of pregnancy. Surg Endosc. 2021 Aug;35(8):4673-4680. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32875420/
6. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 775: Nonobstetric Surgery During Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Apr;133(4):e285-e286. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30913200/
7. Ashbrook M, Cheng V, Sandhu K, Matsuo K, Schellenberg M, Inaba K, Matsushima K. Management of Complicated Appendicitis During Pregnancy in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Apr 1;5(4):e227555. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35426921/
8. Capella CE, Godovchik J, Chandrasekar T, Al-Kouatly HB. Nonobstetrical Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery in Pregnancy: A Systematic Literature Review. Urology. 2021 May;151:58-66. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32445766/

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  

If you liked this episode, check out other Behind the Knife minimally invasive surgery episodes: https://behindtheknife.org/podcast-category/minimally-invasive/

Join the Hernia Team from Carolinas Medical Center as they discuss applications of artificial intelligence in predicting outcomes for patients undergoing abdominal wall reconstruction. Emerging technologies are allowing us to understand hernia patients who are at risk for increased surgical complexity and postoperative complications – find out more in this Journal Review episode.

Hosts:

• Dr. Sullivan “Sully” Ayuso, Chief Resident, Carolinas Medical Center, @SAyusoMD 
•  Dr. Todd Heniford, Chief of GI & MIS, Carolinas Medical Center, @THeniford 
•  Dr. Vedra Augenstein, Professor of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, @VedraAugenstein 
• Dr. Monica Polcz, Attending Surgeon, Baptist Health (FL) 

Learning Objectives:

• Provide and introduction to artificial intelligence
• Develop an understanding of the applications of artificial intelligence in surgical outcome prediction for patients undergoing hernia repair
• Learn how risk stratification of hernia patients can affect their care

References:

• Elhage et al, Development and Validation of Image-Based Deep Learning Models to Predict Surgical Complexity and Complications in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction, JAMA Surgery, 2021

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34232255/

• Ayuso et al, Predicting Rare Outcomes in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Using Image-Based Deep Learning Models, Surgery, 2023 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36229252/ 

• Hassan et al, Novel Machine Learning Approach for Prediction of Hernia Recurrence, Surgical Complication, and 30-Day Readmission after Abdominal Wall Reconstruction, JACS, 2022

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35426406/

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  

If you liked this episode, check out more Behind the Knife hernia episodes: https://behindtheknife.org/podcast-category/hernia/

We’re all told to find mentors in medical training, but how does this actually work when you’re a new medical student interested in surgery? And how do you leverage those relationships into getting research experience and lines on your CV? 

Hosts: 
Nina Clark, MD
Jessica Millar, MD
Jon Williams, MD

Guests: 
Michael Englesbe, MD, University of Michigan
Erika Bisgaard, MD, University of Washington

Some tips from the episode:
Get involved

• Even if you’re not destined for an academic career, getting involved in research early on can help you to participate with the scientific literature, understand data, and incorporate new research into your practice. 
•  Realistically, research is an important component of your ERAS application and your CV. It’s also a great opportunity to learn new skills and develop strong relationships with mentors.

Remember why you’re in medical school

• You came to medical school to become a doctor first – don’t forget that or let research take away from it. Your mentors have been through it and understand that things get busy.

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more. 

If you liked this episode, check out our Medical Student Intern Survival Guide Series: https://behindtheknife.org/podcast-series/medical-student-and-intern-survival-guide/ 

We’re all told to find mentors in medical training, but how does this actually work when you’re a new medical student interested in surgery? In this episode, our surgical education fellows and two expert mentors talk through the ins and outs of mentors – who are they, what can they do for you, how do you find one, and what do you do once you have one. 

Hosts: 
Nina Clark, MD
Jessica Millar, MD
Jon Williams, MD

Guests: 
Michael Englesbe, MD, University of Michigan
Erika Bisgaard, MD, University of Washington

Some tips from the episode:

Mentorship teams: think about 4-5 people who can help you in different ways. 

• Research mentor who can help you find opportunities and be productive
• 1-2 people who support you in all things (these might be residents!) 
• 1-2 higher level sponsors who facilitate opportunities and pay for things

Discipline and accountability

• RESPOND TO EMAILS. If you get an indication that a potential mentor would like to meet with you, take them up on the offer and be prompt with your replies! Nobody likes to be ghosted.
• Meet with your mentors at some regular cadence (every 2 weeks is a good place to start)
• Think of mentorship as a game of tennis – if your mentor gives you something to work on, the next meeting you should bring it back completed. This is a relationship, and back and forth accountability can establish trust. 

Change over time

•  As you grow, you’ll change, and so will your relationships with mentors. This is one of the most rewarding aspects of these relationships and something you should aim to maintain over time. 

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  

If you liked this episode, check out our Medical Student Intern Survival Guide Series: https://behindtheknife.org/podcast-series/medical-student-and-intern-survival-guide/ 

Challenges continue to plague the residency application process, with programs receiving increased application volume that makes holistic review difficult, and medical student applicants burdened with application costs and uncertainty about what programs best align with their values. As a specialty, Ob/Gyn is facing these problems head on, and have united within their field to create a new independent residency application system, ResidencyCAS. While substantial changes to an already stressful process can be intimidating, the new platform offers many advantages that hope to improve the residency application experience for applicants, programs, and the Ob/Gyn community as a whole. We’re joined by Dr. Maya Hammoud and Dr. AnnaMarie Connolly, two of the leaders in this effort, to break down the creation of ResidencyCAS, plans for its implementation starting in the 2024-2025 application cycle, and the reaction of the Ob/Gyn and medical education communities to this change.
Learning Objectives
1.     Listeners will describe current challenges to applicants and programs in the residency application process.
2.     Listeners will identify the coming changes to the Ob/Gyn residency application process, with awareness of the planned design and use of the ResidencyCAS system.
3.     Listeners will describe the value of potential changes to the residency application process.
4.     Listeners will explain the barriers and efforts required to coordinate large-scale changes within medical education like the creation and implementation of ResidencyCAS.
5.     Listeners will consider how changes to the residency application process could affect and improve their own field, program, or application.

Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  

If you liked this episode, check out our other Surgical Education Episodes: https://behindtheknife.org/podcast-category/surgical-education/