Who is the “Ideal Surgical Trainee?”: A Qualitative Analysis of Letters of Recommendation to Subspecialty Surgical Fellowship

IF 2.6 3区医学 Q1 EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES

Journal of Surgical Education Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI:10.1016/j.jsurg.2025.103479

Jonathan S. Abelson MD, MS , Ali Al Jabri MD , Hina Bhat MD , Elizabeth M. Breen MD , Angela H. Kuhnen MD , Sharon L. Stein MD , Emily Steinhagen MD , Julia T. Saraidaridis MD, MMSc

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

It is unknown what traits practicing surgeons value in those wishing to become colorectal surgeons. The objective of this study was determine the most common qualities used to describe applicants to colorectal surgery residency.

Design

Letters of a recommendation (LOR) qualitatively analyzed to determine how writers described applicants. Letters were analyzed, coded, and categorized to understand the qualities most admired and devalued by reviewers.

Setting

LOR submitted to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Massachusetts

Participants

111 applicants to colorectal surgery residency at Lahey during the 2019 to 2020 cycle including 658 letters and 409 letter writers. There were 315 standardized LOR and 343 narrative LOR.

Results

75% of letters described some aspect of “grindstone” or hard-working attributes as being a positive. Other LORs valued attributes including being likeable and having good clinical and technical skills. The most frequent applicant flaws identified in the LOR included poor leadership skills and lack of delegation skills. Several letter writers also expressed concerns when an applicant was too soft spoken.

Conclusions

This study codifies the qualities valued by letter writers in describing colorectal surgery applicants. The descriptors used by surgeons in LOR can be thought of as a portrayal of the qualities composing an “ideal surgical trainee.” This cohort of LOR emphasized grindstone characteristics as a positive and poor leadership as a negative. As work-life integration becomes increasingly important to early career surgeons, intergenerational conflict may arise if the qualities lauded in the “ideal applicant” focus on work at all cost.

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来源期刊

Journal of Surgical Education EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES-SURGERY

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

10.30%

发文量

261

审稿时长

48 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Surgical Education (JSE) is dedicated to advancing the field of surgical education through original research. The journal publishes research articles in all surgical disciplines on topics relative to the education of surgical students, residents, and fellows, as well as practicing surgeons. Our readers look to JSE for timely, innovative research findings from the international surgical education community. As the official journal of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS), JSE publishes the proceedings of the annual APDS meeting held during Surgery Education Week.