Training Residents And Their Mentors

In a world of rapidly changing technology and educational demands, innovative training methods are required to prepare the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons. The Thoracic Surgery Directors Association and the Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education Inc. have developed programs to ensure that CT residents receive the best possible training.

A prime example of these efforts is the annual TSDA Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Boot Camp. The 2011 Boot Camp was held July 14-17 at the continuing education center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

First-year residents from 24 thoracic surgery residency programs across the country joined faculty, led by Dr. James Fann of Stanford (Calif.) University, Dr. Rick Feins of UNC Chapel Hill, and Dr. George Hicks Jr. of the University of Rochester (N.Y.), with the goal of gaining valuable insights into surgical techniques and expanding their base of thoracic surgery knowledge.

The program was developed and hosted by the TSDA and was funded in part through a grant from the JTCSE.

Photos courtesy of the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association

Now in its fourth year, the boot camp uses cardiothoracic simulator–based training to give residents some of the basic skill sets necessary to enhance their residency educational experience, especially in the operating room.

This year, procedures included cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic valve repair, anastomosis, lung ventilation, and lobectomy.

Seeking out multidisciplinary approaches to teaching, the TSDA boot camp faculty also brought in guest speakers from the world of 3-D gaming and aviation. Ron Maness, a former pilot with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, offered insights into how pilots use simulation to avoid errors in the cockpit. Additionally, Richard Boyd from Lockheed Martin Virtual World Labs spoke about how 3-D simulation tools for health care could make analysis and training fast, safe, and measurable.

"Other professional fields have made great gains when it comes to quality by using simulations in teaching," said Dr. Feins. "Sharing multidisciplinary learning approaches with up-and-coming residents is a great way to expand and build on their current knowledge base."

Feedback from the residents that was reported at the TSDA website indicated that Boot Camp III was a success. "Boot Camp was perfectly [set up] to introduce career advancement in cardiac and thoracic surgery," noted one resident in an evaluation.

"The hand-picked faculty was a key element to the camp and collectively they shared the goal of introducing foreign concepts in the field and did it in a very [nonintimidating] fashion."

Director feedback also expressed strong support of the boot camp’s benefits, with 91% of program directors saying that their resident’s experience was very or extremely helpful. Resident boot camp participants displayed similar enthusiasm for the program, indicating that it was a "phenomenal experience," and a "fantastic opportunity," according to a TSDA summary.

This weekend-long course incorporated simulated emergency scenarios and surgery demonstrations, with residents able to spend extensive one-on-one time with the faculty, from whom they gained guidance along with the finer points of cardiothoracic surgery basics.

Faculty and resident assessments were integrated into the curriculum throughout the weekend, providing valuable data on surgical skills, teaching methods, and simulator-based competencies, according to the TSDA.

"We are pleased to have such a high level of participation this year," said Dr. Hicks, president of TSDA and the boot camp program director. "The faculty was enthusiastic and patient. Overall, it was a great experience, and TSDA is committed to providing continued simulation training for surgical residents."

Industry and institutional donations, including instruments, tissue, simulators, and supplies, were provided by the University of North Carolina, B-Line Medical, the Chamberlain Group, Covidien, CryoLife, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Karl Storz Endoscopy, Maquet Cardiovascular, Medtronic, Olympus America, Pilling Division of Teleflex Medical, Scanlan International, Sorin Group, and St. Jude Medical.

Powerpoints of the educational session presentations, photos of the meeting, a faculty listing, and a list of supporting organizations are available at the TSDA website (www.tsda.org/sections/meetings/2011%20Boot%20Camp/index.html.)

Educating Mentors

For the second year, in conjunction with the residents’ boot camp, the JCTSE conducted its Educate the Educators (EtE) program. The EtE program was held July 14-17 in Chapel Hill and was developed based on the specific needs of cardiothoracic surgeons.

According to a statement by the JCTSE surgical director of education, Dr. Edward D. Verrier, "the combination of these two programs achieving their goals bodes well for the future of cardiothoracic surgery education. The TSDA’s [boot camp] provided incoming residents with an experiential foundation and hands-on practice in basic cardiothoracic operating skills and the JCTSE’s EtE program enhanced the teaching skills of cardiothoracic surgical faculty and promoted the concept of career advancement through education."

The objectives of the EtE course were derived from national surveys of U.S.-based cardiothoracic surgery faculty and residents. The findings from these surveys guided EtE course codirectors, Dr. Stephen C. Yang of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Dr. Ara Vaporciyan of the University of Texas, Houston, according to the JCTSE.

The 2.5-day program focused on the effective delivery of skills-based education (simulation and intraoperative teaching) and methods to convert educational efforts into career advancement (grants and promotion); it included adult learning theory, how to teach in the operating room, curriculum development and implementation, how to improve assessment skills, and how to use the science of education as a faculty advancement tool.

The goal of the program, according to the JCTSE, is to better prepare attendees to enhance educational efforts at their home institution. This enhancement may come in the form of initiating a skills laboratory with a complete curriculum or developing a separate program to address a specific educational need.

Dr. Yang said in a JTCSE summary of the meeting, "I think EtE 2011 was even more successful than last year due in part to the return of stellar faculty from the 2010 program and additions to that faculty. Attendees arrived with a high level of enthusiasm, interest, and energy, most likely driven by the information they receive about the program they were about to attend but as well as feedback they received from last year’s attendees. This year’s attendees definitely left with an eagerness to encourage other colleagues to attend the course in the future."

According to the JCTSE, connections will be maintained with those who attended both the 2010 and 2011 EtE programs "to help guide them as they make inroads into improving cardiothoracic surgery education. The JCTSE remains committed to building an ‘army of educators’ who will lead the new wave of education for the next generation of CT surgeons."

In a world of rapidly changing technology and educational demands, innovative training methods are required to prepare the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons. The Thoracic Surgery Directors Association and the Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education Inc. have developed programs to ensure that CT residents receive the best possible training.

A prime example of these efforts is the annual TSDA Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Boot Camp. The 2011 Boot Camp was held July 14-17 at the continuing education center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

First-year residents from 24 thoracic surgery residency programs across the country joined faculty, led by Dr. James Fann of Stanford (Calif.) University, Dr. Rick Feins of UNC Chapel Hill, and Dr. George Hicks Jr. of the University of Rochester (N.Y.), with the goal of gaining valuable insights into surgical techniques and expanding their base of thoracic surgery knowledge.

The program was developed and hosted by the TSDA and was funded in part through a grant from the JTCSE.

Photos courtesy of the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association

Now in its fourth year, the boot camp uses cardiothoracic simulator–based training to give residents some of the basic skill sets necessary to enhance their residency educational experience, especially in the operating room.

This year, procedures included cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic valve repair, anastomosis, lung ventilation, and lobectomy.

Seeking out multidisciplinary approaches to teaching, the TSDA boot camp faculty also brought in guest speakers from the world of 3-D gaming and aviation. Ron Maness, a former pilot with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, offered insights into how pilots use simulation to avoid errors in the cockpit. Additionally, Richard Boyd from Lockheed Martin Virtual World Labs spoke about how 3-D simulation tools for health care could make analysis and training fast, safe, and measurable.

"Other professional fields have made great gains when it comes to quality by using simulations in teaching," said Dr. Feins. "Sharing multidisciplinary learning approaches with up-and-coming residents is a great way to expand and build on their current knowledge base."

Feedback from the residents that was reported at the TSDA website indicated that Boot Camp III was a success. "Boot Camp was perfectly [set up] to introduce career advancement in cardiac and thoracic surgery," noted one resident in an evaluation.

"The hand-picked faculty was a key element to the camp and collectively they shared the goal of introducing foreign concepts in the field and did it in a very [nonintimidating] fashion."

Director feedback also expressed strong support of the boot camp’s benefits, with 91% of program directors saying that their resident’s experience was very or extremely helpful. Resident boot camp participants displayed similar enthusiasm for the program, indicating that it was a "phenomenal experience," and a "fantastic opportunity," according to a TSDA summary.

This weekend-long course incorporated simulated emergency scenarios and surgery demonstrations, with residents able to spend extensive one-on-one time with the faculty, from whom they gained guidance along with the finer points of cardiothoracic surgery basics.

Faculty and resident assessments were integrated into the curriculum throughout the weekend, providing valuable data on surgical skills, teaching methods, and simulator-based competencies, according to the TSDA.

"We are pleased to have such a high level of participation this year," said Dr. Hicks, president of TSDA and the boot camp program director. "The faculty was enthusiastic and patient. Overall, it was a great experience, and TSDA is committed to providing continued simulation training for surgical residents."

Industry and institutional donations, including instruments, tissue, simulators, and supplies, were provided by the University of North Carolina, B-Line Medical, the Chamberlain Group, Covidien, CryoLife, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Karl Storz Endoscopy, Maquet Cardiovascular, Medtronic, Olympus America, Pilling Division of Teleflex Medical, Scanlan International, Sorin Group, and St. Jude Medical.

Powerpoints of the educational session presentations, photos of the meeting, a faculty listing, and a list of supporting organizations are available at the TSDA website (www.tsda.org/sections/meetings/2011%20Boot%20Camp/index.html.)

Educating Mentors

For the second year, in conjunction with the residents’ boot camp, the JCTSE conducted its Educate the Educators (EtE) program. The EtE program was held July 14-17 in Chapel Hill and was developed based on the specific needs of cardiothoracic surgeons.

According to a statement by the JCTSE surgical director of education, Dr. Edward D. Verrier, "the combination of these two programs achieving their goals bodes well for the future of cardiothoracic surgery education. The TSDA’s [boot camp] provided incoming residents with an experiential foundation and hands-on practice in basic cardiothoracic operating skills and the JCTSE’s EtE program enhanced the teaching skills of cardiothoracic surgical faculty and promoted the concept of career advancement through education."

The objectives of the EtE course were derived from national surveys of U.S.-based cardiothoracic surgery faculty and residents. The findings from these surveys guided EtE course codirectors, Dr. Stephen C. Yang of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Dr. Ara Vaporciyan of the University of Texas, Houston, according to the JCTSE.

The 2.5-day program focused on the effective delivery of skills-based education (simulation and intraoperative teaching) and methods to convert educational efforts into career advancement (grants and promotion); it included adult learning theory, how to teach in the operating room, curriculum development and implementation, how to improve assessment skills, and how to use the science of education as a faculty advancement tool.

The goal of the program, according to the JCTSE, is to better prepare attendees to enhance educational efforts at their home institution. This enhancement may come in the form of initiating a skills laboratory with a complete curriculum or developing a separate program to address a specific educational need.

Dr. Yang said in a JTCSE summary of the meeting, "I think EtE 2011 was even more successful than last year due in part to the return of stellar faculty from the 2010 program and additions to that faculty. Attendees arrived with a high level of enthusiasm, interest, and energy, most likely driven by the information they receive about the program they were about to attend but as well as feedback they received from last year’s attendees. This year’s attendees definitely left with an eagerness to encourage other colleagues to attend the course in the future."

According to the JCTSE, connections will be maintained with those who attended both the 2010 and 2011 EtE programs "to help guide them as they make inroads into improving cardiothoracic surgery education. The JCTSE remains committed to building an ‘army of educators’ who will lead the new wave of education for the next generation of CT surgeons."

In a world of rapidly changing technology and educational demands, innovative training methods are required to prepare the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons. The Thoracic Surgery Directors Association and the Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education Inc. have developed programs to ensure that CT residents receive the best possible training.

A prime example of these efforts is the annual TSDA Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Boot Camp. The 2011 Boot Camp was held July 14-17 at the continuing education center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

First-year residents from 24 thoracic surgery residency programs across the country joined faculty, led by Dr. James Fann of Stanford (Calif.) University, Dr. Rick Feins of UNC Chapel Hill, and Dr. George Hicks Jr. of the University of Rochester (N.Y.), with the goal of gaining valuable insights into surgical techniques and expanding their base of thoracic surgery knowledge.

The program was developed and hosted by the TSDA and was funded in part through a grant from the JTCSE.

Photos courtesy of the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association

Now in its fourth year, the boot camp uses cardiothoracic simulator–based training to give residents some of the basic skill sets necessary to enhance their residency educational experience, especially in the operating room.

This year, procedures included cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic valve repair, anastomosis, lung ventilation, and lobectomy.

Seeking out multidisciplinary approaches to teaching, the TSDA boot camp faculty also brought in guest speakers from the world of 3-D gaming and aviation. Ron Maness, a former pilot with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, offered insights into how pilots use simulation to avoid errors in the cockpit. Additionally, Richard Boyd from Lockheed Martin Virtual World Labs spoke about how 3-D simulation tools for health care could make analysis and training fast, safe, and measurable.

"Other professional fields have made great gains when it comes to quality by using simulations in teaching," said Dr. Feins. "Sharing multidisciplinary learning approaches with up-and-coming residents is a great way to expand and build on their current knowledge base."

Feedback from the residents that was reported at the TSDA website indicated that Boot Camp III was a success. "Boot Camp was perfectly [set up] to introduce career advancement in cardiac and thoracic surgery," noted one resident in an evaluation.

"The hand-picked faculty was a key element to the camp and collectively they shared the goal of introducing foreign concepts in the field and did it in a very [nonintimidating] fashion."

Director feedback also expressed strong support of the boot camp’s benefits, with 91% of program directors saying that their resident’s experience was very or extremely helpful. Resident boot camp participants displayed similar enthusiasm for the program, indicating that it was a "phenomenal experience," and a "fantastic opportunity," according to a TSDA summary.

This weekend-long course incorporated simulated emergency scenarios and surgery demonstrations, with residents able to spend extensive one-on-one time with the faculty, from whom they gained guidance along with the finer points of cardiothoracic surgery basics.

Faculty and resident assessments were integrated into the curriculum throughout the weekend, providing valuable data on surgical skills, teaching methods, and simulator-based competencies, according to the TSDA.

"We are pleased to have such a high level of participation this year," said Dr. Hicks, president of TSDA and the boot camp program director. "The faculty was enthusiastic and patient. Overall, it was a great experience, and TSDA is committed to providing continued simulation training for surgical residents."

Industry and institutional donations, including instruments, tissue, simulators, and supplies, were provided by the University of North Carolina, B-Line Medical, the Chamberlain Group, Covidien, CryoLife, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Karl Storz Endoscopy, Maquet Cardiovascular, Medtronic, Olympus America, Pilling Division of Teleflex Medical, Scanlan International, Sorin Group, and St. Jude Medical.

Powerpoints of the educational session presentations, photos of the meeting, a faculty listing, and a list of supporting organizations are available at the TSDA website (www.tsda.org/sections/meetings/2011%20Boot%20Camp/index.html.)

Educating Mentors

For the second year, in conjunction with the residents’ boot camp, the JCTSE conducted its Educate the Educators (EtE) program. The EtE program was held July 14-17 in Chapel Hill and was developed based on the specific needs of cardiothoracic surgeons.

According to a statement by the JCTSE surgical director of education, Dr. Edward D. Verrier, "the combination of these two programs achieving their goals bodes well for the future of cardiothoracic surgery education. The TSDA’s [boot camp] provided incoming residents with an experiential foundation and hands-on practice in basic cardiothoracic operating skills and the JCTSE’s EtE program enhanced the teaching skills of cardiothoracic surgical faculty and promoted the concept of career advancement through education."

The objectives of the EtE course were derived from national surveys of U.S.-based cardiothoracic surgery faculty and residents. The findings from these surveys guided EtE course codirectors, Dr. Stephen C. Yang of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Dr. Ara Vaporciyan of the University of Texas, Houston, according to the JCTSE.

The 2.5-day program focused on the effective delivery of skills-based education (simulation and intraoperative teaching) and methods to convert educational efforts into career advancement (grants and promotion); it included adult learning theory, how to teach in the operating room, curriculum development and implementation, how to improve assessment skills, and how to use the science of education as a faculty advancement tool.

The goal of the program, according to the JCTSE, is to better prepare attendees to enhance educational efforts at their home institution. This enhancement may come in the form of initiating a skills laboratory with a complete curriculum or developing a separate program to address a specific educational need.

Dr. Yang said in a JTCSE summary of the meeting, "I think EtE 2011 was even more successful than last year due in part to the return of stellar faculty from the 2010 program and additions to that faculty. Attendees arrived with a high level of enthusiasm, interest, and energy, most likely driven by the information they receive about the program they were about to attend but as well as feedback they received from last year’s attendees. This year’s attendees definitely left with an eagerness to encourage other colleagues to attend the course in the future."

According to the JCTSE, connections will be maintained with those who attended both the 2010 and 2011 EtE programs "to help guide them as they make inroads into improving cardiothoracic surgery education. The JCTSE remains committed to building an ‘army of educators’ who will lead the new wave of education for the next generation of CT surgeons."