title: Interventions to address challenges associated with the transition from residency training to independent surgical practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concerns regarding preparation of residents for independent surgical practice are widespread and support for junior surgeons entering practice is variable across institutions and practices. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education partnered with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to convene a National Invitational Conference to define key issues relating to the transition to practice and develop recommendations to address various challenges.
  Leaders from ACS, ACGME, certifying boards, residency review committees, program director organizations, and professional societies representing the breadth of surgical specialties, along with other key stakeholders, were invited to participate in the 1.5-day conference in July 2012. Key recommendations generated during the conference included the need to focus on the transition to practice within the context of the continuum of professional development; definition of specific levels of knowledge and skills expected of graduating surgery residents; development and adoption of competency-based methods for training, assessment, and advancement of residents; implementation of special interventions during the chief resident year to prepare residents for practice; robust evaluations of residents before graduation; intake assessments of junior surgeons during the onboarding processes; and effective mentorship for junior surgeons as they enter practice. Recommendations also highlighted major regulatory, legal, and financial issues. The key role of ACS and other national organizations in implementing the recommendations was underscored.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recommendations from the conference should be of great help in addressing various challenges associated with the transition from surgery residency to independent practice.
authors.affiliation: American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: asachdeva@facs.org.
authors.forename: Ajit K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sachdeva
authors.affiliation: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Chicago, IL; University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL.
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Brigham
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Ralph G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dacey
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Lena M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.affiliation: Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.affiliation: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Philibert
authors.affiliation: American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Patrice Gabler
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.affiliation: American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Linda K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Lupi
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D008611:Mentors; D011361:Professional Competence; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000193:education*