Voluntary changes in surgery career paths: a survey of the program directors in surgery.
Abstract
Background This article attempts to quantify the current scope of attrition, identify the reasons why categorical residents are leaving general surgery residency programs voluntarily, and correlate the program directors' and residents' perspectives. Study design A questionnaire asked the Program Directors of general surgery residency programs how many categorical residents left voluntarily in the 2000-2001 academic year, their postgraduate (PGY) levels, why they left, and where they went. Another questionnaire asked the residents why they entered surgery and why they left. The surveys' responses were compared. Results A total of 206 programs (81%) responded. One hundred ten programs (53%) reported voluntarily attrition of 167 categorical residents (mean: 0.8 residents per program for all responders and 1.5 residents per program for programs that reported attrition). Seventy-three programs (66%) lost one resident; 23 programs (21%), 2 residents; 9 programs (8%), 3 residents; 4 programs (4%), 4 residents; and 1 program ( Conclusions Most surgery programs that responded were affected by attrition in 2000-2001, with approximately one-third losing more than one resident. Attrition tends to occur early in training. Most residents enter other specialties, primarily for quality-of-life reasons. But many stay in general surgery.
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Attrition mainly occurs during the first two years of training across different clinical departments, as supported by the literature.
“The result that attrition mainly occurred during the first two years of training across the different clinical departments is supported heavily in the literature.17,18”
Most surgery programs have been affected by attrition.
“Most surgery programs have been affected by attrition and onethird of programs have lost more than one resident [10].”
From How Can We Reduce Attrition in General Surgery Residents? (2018) · cites this paper as [10]
One-third of surgery programs have lost more than one resident.
“Most surgery programs have been affected by attrition and onethird of programs have lost more than one resident [10].”
From How Can We Reduce Attrition in General Surgery Residents? (2018) · cites this paper as [10]
Attrition usually occurs early in training, typically after the first two years.
“Attrition usually occurs early in training, typically after the first two years [10]”
From How Can We Reduce Attrition in General Surgery Residents? (2018) · cites this paper as [10]
The research year is a common time to quit the residency.
“This probably accounts for the fact that the research year is a common time to quit the residency [6,10].”
From How Can We Reduce Attrition in General Surgery Residents? (2018) · cites this paper as [10]
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Why do residents leave general surgery? The hidden problem in today's programs
Dodson, T. F., & Webb, A. L. B. (2005) · Current Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.cursur.2004.07.009 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Schwed, A. C., Lee, S. L., Salcedo, E. S., Reeves, M. E., Inaba, K., Sidwell, R. A., Amersi, F., Are, C., Arnell, T. D., Damewood, R. B., et al. (2017) · JAMA Surgery · doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2017.2656 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Self-citationHow Can We Reduce Attrition in General Surgery Residents?
DM, A. (2018) · Austin Journal of Surgery · doi:10.26420/austinjsurg.2018.1129 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Tabuñar, S. M. S., & Parreño Sacdalan, M. D. (2025) · PubMed · doi:10.47895/amp.vi0.9376 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Department of Surgery, T. U. O. A., M Avery, D., G Harrell, A., Department of Surgery, T. U. O. A., C Wallace, J., Department of Surgery, T. U. O. A., E Geno, C., Department of Family, I. &. R. M., Taylor, G., University of Alabama School of Medicine, U., et al. (2018) · International Journal of Innovative Surgery · doi:10.33582/2639-9229/1003 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
(2025) · Acta Medica Philippina · doi:10.47895/amp.v59i6.9376 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“17,18 The timing may stem from adjustments to a highly demanding training atmosphere, steep learning curve, acclimatization to a new job, adaptation to the hectic duty schedules, and familiarization with hospital processes while getting to know their workmates.”
- Authors
- Morris, J. B., Leibrandt, T. J., & Rhodes, R. S.
- Affiliations
- Abington Memorial Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- Morris, Jon B
- Leibrandt, Thomas J
- Rhodes, Robert S
- ORCID
- Rhodes, Robert S
- Venue
- Journal of the American College of Surgeons
- Published
- 2003-04
- Volume
- 196
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 611-616
- ISSN
- 1072-7515 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1977149014
- Cited by
- 70
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 16.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the American College of Surgeons (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Diversity and Career in Medicine
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Keywords
- general surgery residency, resident attrition, program directors, quality of life, resident retention
- MeSH terms
- Career Choice, Faculty, Medical, Humans, Internship and Residency, Surveys and Questionnaires, Student Dropouts, General Surgery, United States
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