Training and mentorship in plastic surgery

[Goal-setting in Plastic Surgery using the SMART principle]

INTRODUCTION

The process of continuous acquisition of surgical expertise is a key element in registrar training. The principle of active, self-directed learning, which is regularly applied in medical school, can also be used to gain surgical expertise in registrar training.

METHODS

Surgical training can be compared to acquiring expertise in music or sport, where both intellectual and manual capabilities are required. Specific training principles, including analysis, goal setting, practice and reflection on the process, are commonly encountered in these fields. Smart goal setting is preferred in order to ensure compliance and a successful strategy. This can also be used in plastic surgery training.

APPLICATION

Surgical principles as well as partial or complete surgical procedures can be practiced using the smart principle. The fragmentation of a larger task into smaller units allows rapid acquisition of surgical expertise without impeding patient safety.

DISCUSSION

Surgical training today happens in a setting caught between economic and medicolegal challenges. The reduction of case load requires simulation practice as well as self-directed learning - which has been shown to improve outcomes. The smart principle allows distinct goal setting which can improve compliance of the student and increase success. As this form of learning is not intuitive to all individuals, supervisors and mentor can support trainees in the acquisition of surgical expertise using this principle.

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Predicting a Successful Career for Plastic Surgeons: A Systematic Review

The definition of a successful career in plastic surgery is both a highly variable and personal one. Career success is underpinned by a combination of skills and is often multifactorial in nature. Although clinical and academic factors have long been key determinants of success, modern medical practice is now underlining the previously understated non-clinical skills as a major contributory element. Emotional intelligence (EI) has shown clear benefits in a successful career in the business world, where it was originally popularized. As a successful career in surgery also requires proficient understanding of human emotions, the clear similarities drawn with corporate success have resulted in a growing interest in EI in the medical domain. Despite such interest, the role of EI as a predictor of career success in plastic surgery has been poorly defined. This systematic review aims to define EI, to explore its role in medical and nonmedical fields, and to investigate its impact on a successful career in plastic surgery.