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Home > Vascular Annual Meeting^® > PVSS1. Norman M. Rich Military Vascular Surgery...

PVSS1. Norman M. Rich Military Vascular Surgery Paper: Vascular Surgery Knowledge and Exposure Obtained During Medical School and the Potential Impact on Career Decisions

CPT Lionel R. Brounts, MD; LTC Niten Singh, MD; CPT, Wayne Causey, MD; Lt.Col. W. Darrin Clouse, MD; LTC Thomas K.Curry, MD; Charles Andersen, MD
Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA and Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, TX

OBJECTIVES: The Pathway to Primary Certification in Vascular Surgery is evolving, requiring trainees to make earlier career decisions. The goal of this study was to evaluate exposure and knowledge of vascular surgery that could impact on career decisions.

METHODS: A survey was conducted of recent medical school graduates entering military residency programs. Questions were designed to assess the following: medical school attended and degree obtained; exposure and perception of vascular surgery; and basic vascular surgery knowledge.

RESULTS: A total of 316 individuals were identified of these 218 (69%) responded to the survey. There were 131 (60%) allopathic graduates and 87 (40%) osteopathic graduates and 53 (24%) individuals entering a surgical residency. Clinical clerkships (32%) were the primary reason for specialty selection followed by lifestyle (29%). The majority of respondents (66%) did not have a vascular clinical clerkship.  Regarding perception, 56% of respondents would consult interventional radiology for a peripheral arteriogram versus vascular surgery (39%). The mean score of the knowledge based questions was 69%. Exposure to vascular surgery correlated with knowledge of vascular procedures (p<0.01). Basic vascular knowledge questions revealed the following: students entering a surgical residency had a trend toward a higher overall score (p=NS); and the score correlated with the number of weeks spent on a surgical (p<0.01) and a vascular surgical (p<0.01) rotation.

CONCLUSIONS: Our cohort had limited exposure and knowledge of vascular surgery. Providing more clinical exposure in medical school appears necessary to ensure success of the modified pathways for primary certification in vascular surgery.

AUTHOR DISCLOSURES: L.R. Brounts, None; N. Singh, None; W. Causey, None; W.D. Clouse, None; T.K.Curry, None; C. Andersen, None.