Effective Teaching for the Surgical Culture

The education of surgeons takes place within a unique surgical culture, and also forms this culture, with its inherent challenges and values. We aim to describe recent surgical education innovations that seek to address the challenges and promote the values of surgical culture.

The high stakes of surgical training has prompted educational strategies such as simulation-based practice, communication tools for shared decision-making, and standardized flipped-classroom didactic content. Resilience curricula and formalized mentorship both help ameliorate burnout and the “surgical personality.” The evolution of morbidity and mortality conferences fosters the value of non-abandonment among surgeons, and the inclusion of team-based skills in surgical training is helping surgeons develop the strengths of interdisciplinary cooperation and leadership. In order to promote acquisition of surgical autonomy, perioperative teaching frameworks and entrustable professional activities are being implemented.

Surgical culture is evolving; surgical educators continue to innovate within this culture, meeting particular challenges and promoting surgical values.