Didactic Activities
The RRC stresses the importance of a defined curriculum in both basic and clinical surgical science. Didactic seminars are provided in both areas. In addition, traditional hospital based conferences are available for resident participation. Required conferences are indicated. Attendance is mandated. Attendance will be taken at all required conferences. Absence is permitted ONLY for formal vacation time.
A) Grand Rounds - Held every Thursday at 7:00 AM in ME-700 the first Thursday of each month. This conference will include Departmental Grand Rounds on the first Thursdays of some months, invited guests, faculty lectures, Senior and Chief Resident presentations and Journal Club. Elements from the clinical curriculum (pg 24) will be addressed.
B) Basic Science Lecture - Held from 8:00 - 9:00 AM in ME-700. Please consult the schedule of topics. This conference covers all of the required topics in basic surgical biology. In our training program for surgeons at the Albany Medical Center, we emphasize the importance of the basic science foundation for the practice of clinical surgery. To this end, there is a weekly basic science lecture which covers topics in the basic biological sciences felt to be essential for an understanding of diseases and their treatment. We use a text for this lecture series, The Physiologic Basis of Surgery, by Patrick O'Leary (second edition).
This text was developed by the Association of Program Directors in Surgery to guide resident learning in these basic science areas. In addition, you will be provided with reprints from the current literature (involving basic science issues), as they become available. We make every effort to correlate this information with our clinical discussions. A computer program of self-assessment questions based on the O'Leary text is available in the resident's room for your independent use
C) Monday Case Conference - Held at 4:00 PM in MS-316 on alternate Mondays, residents will present interesting cases for discussion. Rather than a formal lecture this should be an interactive session involving medical students and residents at all levels in a clinical discussion of an interesting disease entity and its surgical solution. This conference alternates with a Board Review Course for PGY-3 through PGY-5 residents (Dr. Hesham).
D) Mortality and Morbidity Conference - Held at 5:00 PM each Thursday in Huyck Auditorium. Deaths and complications drawn from the previous week's clinical activities will be reviewed. This will include all cases from Albany Medical Center Hospital. The Senior Resident from each service will present the significant complications and unexpected deaths occurring on the service to which he/she is assigned. Pertinent X-ray films should be provided and a power point presentation of the case should be prepared. The residents should be prepared to speak knowledgeably and succinctly on each case of significance to be discussed. The conference is run by the administrative Chief Resident and a panel of faculty that functions as a component of the Quality Assurance process for the Division of General Surgery.
E) Critical Care Course; Basic Surgery Course - A course in Surgical Critical Care is provided for all incoming and returning Junior residents. This will be held on Thursday mornings from 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM in ME-700 from August 3rd until August 31. A Basic Surgery Course, "Nuts and Bolts," will be provided by the Chief Residents for all incoming residents at 7:00 AM-9:00 AM, ME-700 on Thursday, July 13th and 20th.
F) Trauma Conference - Conducted on a biweekly basis on the first and third Wednesday each month from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM in ME-700. This conference involves both case presentations and didactic sessions. All residents on the Trauma Service are required to attend. All other residents are encouraged to do so, time permitting.
G) Vascular Surgery Conference - Held on a weekly basis on Friday mornings at 8:00 AM in the Radiology Education Conference Room (FB-18). This conference consists of case presentations from the VA Hospital, AMCH, and Ellis Hospital. The attending Vascular Surgeons who participate in the residency program attend. Cases are presented by the residents on Vascular Surgery and then discussed, at length, by the attendings. It is important that the residents responsible have a presentation prepared and bring all pertinent X-rays and angiograms. All residents on Vascular Surgery and all residents assigned to the VA Hospital are required to attend. All other residents are encouraged to attend, time permitting.
H) Journal Club - Held once a month as part of the Thursday morning conferences (please refer to the yearly schedule for Thursday conferences). The chief resident, in consultation with Dr. Carl Rosati, will choose four articles for discussion. These will include both basic science and clinically oriented papers. In preparation, every resident should review on a monthly (and timely) basis, the following Surgical Peer Review Journals:
Journal of American College of Surgeons Surgery
Annals of Surgery
Archives of Surgery
American Journal of Surgery
During Journal Club, we will review a sample of articles from the surgical literature. In addition, we will discuss, in a clinical manner, research design, statistical use and evaluations, as well as critical thinking in Surgery. Journal Club is provided in addition to, not to replace, your reading of the mainstream surgical literature. Reading habits you develop during the residency will stay with you the rest of your professional life.
I) VA Hospital - Mortality and Morbidity Conference and Grand Rounds occur on Tuesday at 7:30 AM in the 6th floor conference room. The conference is mandatory for all resident staff. Each senior resident at the VA will be expected to give one Grand Rounds Presentation during the rotation.
J) Clinical Case Conference - will be held every other Monday at 4:00 PM in Room MS-316. One interesting case will be presented and discussed. All laboratory and imaging data should be available. The thrust of this conference is pathophysiology of the disease process and decision making in regard to surgical options and complications.
