STS Resident Symposium 2014
The 2014 Residents’ Symposium at the STS 50th Annual Meeting in Orlando was heavily attended and greatly appreciated by current thoracic surgical trainees.
This outstanding forum boasted several experienced and informative speakers, with the overall goals of helping residents to find the right job and transition to practice.
Moderated by Dr. Sidhu Gangadharan, Dr. Sandra Starnes, and Dr. Ara A. Vaporciyan, this session addressed several key foci, specifically aiming to help residents plan a successful job search, negotiate important elements of a contract, plan for ways to bring new technologies into a practice, recognize the legal issues of billing and coding, and identify the important aspects of early career development. This phenomenal collection of talks featured a number of key speakers, who provided tips and recommendations received with great interest by the resident participants.
The symposium was kicked off by Dr. Danny Chu of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who spoke on how to find a job position. He shared his personal experiences and gave attendees an overview of the actual job-search process. He provided several tips for finding the best job. He stated that since, "good positions are almost never advertised until they are filled, it helps to have a big network." He explained that, "in such a small community, there are literally 3 degrees of separation, and everyone knows everyone. In addition to being a good surgeon, being a nice and affable person will get you a good position." His top tips for finding a job are to "Work hard, be nice, and be social." Dr. Chu concluded his presentation by explaining that there’s no magic formula for finding a job, but that it’s very much like dating. He warns that money is not everything, details are all negotiable, and one should be cautious in trusting others. In the end, he believes that "nice guys will win," and tells the group despite much anxiety, it will work out in the end.
This was followed by a talk from Dr. Christine Lau of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, on interviewing and self-marketing. Dr. Lau provided her insights on how to best represent yourself in the interview process, with a number of great points about putting your best foot forward. She emphasized the importance of being prepared, and she strongly advised that, prior to going on an interview, you do your homework. "Know what the position entails," explained Dr. Lau, "and have a well-thought-out plan regarding what you uniquely bring to it."
She advised speaking to a number of people in advance in order to elucidate the specific needs of the group. And, while Dr. Lau encourages you to have a clear explanation as to how you might meet the expectations of the job, she offered a reminder of the importance of being honest. "Yes, you want to explain how you fit into the spot; however, if it’s not a good fit, don’t try to be something that you’re not. You won’t be happy in the long run, and neither will they." Dr. Lau also offered some advice regarding the concept of specialization.
"Everybody wants to have a niche. But you don’t need to force yourself to differentiate early on." She continued, "If your interests and skills are broad at this point, that’s not a bad thing. You can always morph later."
Dr. Faiz Bhora of Columbia University, N.Y., wrapped up the first session with a discussion of contract negotiations – helping attendees prioritize what’s worth fighting for, how to fight for it, and how to avoid going so far as to negotiate oneself out of a job.
After the opportunity to partake in both small and large group sessions and a short break, the symposium resumed, with the second half focusing on the transition from trainee to attending surgeon.
Dr. Edward Chen of Emory University in Atlanta provided suggestions for adding new technologies to one’s practice and the effective team interactions required to do so. He listed several key strategies that he feels are critical to a successful transition. Communication, communication, and communication were at the top of his list. He advised that it’s a two-way street and that ample meetings may be necessary regarding one’s needs and expectations. He warned not to make any assumptions and to be flexible about adapting to the system that is in place. He also stressed the importance of a willingness to educate the staff about specific technology – in the ICU, in the OR, and on the ward. Dr. Chen also spoke about professional behavior and team building once one is out in the real world.
