Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this study was to identify best practices, strategies, and methods leading to the success of experienced and accomplished physicians to provide a reference for residents of graduate medical programs.MethodsTen practicing physicians and resident mentors each with at least 10 years of experience were interviewed with open-ended, narrative-based questions related to themes of paths to success, the proper role of a resident, lessons learned, helpful skills, and advice for a new resident/physician.ResultsSurprisingly, interviewees’ answers reflected the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice. The importance of mentorship was also emphasized.ConclusionACGME core competencies serve as a roadmap to success based on the experience of many successful physicians. Given that mandated mentor programs in many graduate medical programs are ineffectively impersonal and mechanical, residents can follow interviewees' advice and proactively form mentor-mentee relationships with experienced physicians to learn the best paths of success.
Highlights
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies serve as a roadmap to success based on the experience of many successful physicians
How can residents best navigate their training and become successful physicians? Can they access the internalized knowledge of experienced physicians? These are the questions that we, and many of our colleagues, had during our medical education and training
As we studied the interview transcripts for essential themes that may benefit residents, we began to see a common pattern: the physicians’ best practices and insights for success each fell into one or more of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies
Summary
These are the questions that we, and many of our colleagues, had during our medical education and training. How can residents best navigate their training and become successful physicians? We contemplated what it would look like if we had a road map to follow. Understanding the potential positive effects of mentoring, we designed a narrative inquiry-based study to access experienced physicians’ and resident mentors’ advice on the best paths to successful medical careers. We asked 10 experienced physicians and resident mentors at The Brooklyn Hospital about their most important knowledge, most effective strategies, highest priorities, and what residents should know to find similar success
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