title: Surgical resident education: what is the department's price for commitment?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current recession has impacted all aspects of our economy. Some residency programs have experienced faculty salary cuts, furlough days, and cessation of funding for travel to academic meetings. This milieu forced many residency programs to reevaluate their commitment to resident education, particularly for those expenses not provided for by Direct Medical Education (DME) and Indirect Medical Education (IME) funds. The purpose of this study was to determine what price a Department of Surgery pays to fulfill its commitment to resident education.
  
  
  METHODS
  A financial analysis of 1 academic year was performed for all expenses not covered by DME or IME funds and is paid for by the faculty practice plan. These expenses were categorized and further analyzed to determine the funds required for resident-related scholarly activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-based general surgery residency program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight surgical residents and a program coordinator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The departmental faculty provided $153,141 during 1 academic year to support the educational mission of the residency. This amount is in addition to the $1.6 million in faculty time, $850,000 provided by the federal government in terms of DME funds, and $14 million of IME funds, which are distributed on an institutional basis. Resident presentations at scientific meetings accounted for $49,672, and program coordinator costs of $44,190 accounted for nearly two-thirds of this funding. The departmental faculty committed $6400 per categorical resident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to DME and IME funds, a department of surgery must commit significant additional monies to meet the educational goals of surgical residency.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Education, Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Meara
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Schlitzkus
authors.forename: Mitzi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Witherington
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haisch
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rotondo
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schenarts
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000191:economics; D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004470:Economics, Medical; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005376:Financial Management / Q000191:economics*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education*; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States