Developing Clinical and Technical Skills

Clinical and technical skill sets are necessary for the successful completion of a surgical residency training program. Each clinical encounter is an opportunity to expand clinical knowledge and practice decision making. Applying fundamentals of history-taking, physical exam technique, and test interpretation is key to skill development. Technical skills involve practice in the clinical and operative settings, but must also be practiced outside the patient care setting to allow for adequate repetition, comfort, and safety. Many of these skills will be taught, but the development and honing of these skill sets will require self-motivation, feedback, and deliberate practice. For both clinical and technical skill development, there are resources and simulation tools to foster competency and graduated autonomy. Additionally, models of micro-assessments provide potential for greater entrustability. While progressing through training, it is crucial to take an active role in utilizing peer and faculty mentors to identify opportunities for professional growth. This chapter will discuss the foundational principles of surgical training, identify core clinical and technical skills, and describe how the development of these various skills will allow for optimal patient care.