Innovation series

Abstract

Surgical innovation and entrepreneurship has evolved tremendously in the last decade and is becoming a more viable pathway for academic surgeons to engage in and develop their careers. In fact, several academic medical centers are now incorporating productivity in innovation and entrepreneurship into the process of promotion and tenure. More than ever, practicing surgeons, medical students, resident physicians, and fellows in training are engaging in the development of novel devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, digital health solutions, and process or policy innovations to improve care of surgical patients. With this in mind and to be at the forefront of surgical science and advances in patient care, it is important to communicate advances in surgical innovation and the entrepreneurial process and to demonstrate effective mechanisms to handle conflicts of interest, intellectual property, and partnerships between industry and academia. The goal of the Innovation Series in Surgery will be to demonstrate novel, successful processes and models for enhancing surgical innovation in academic surgery as well as methods to overcome hurdles and challenges in this important process of development and implementation. Articles will demonstrate an effective model or process for engagement and advancement of surgical innovations and will provide a well-rounded perspective and approach from a diverse group of surgical programs around the country. This is a very exciting time for surgeons, no matter where they practice, to create and apply novel technologies that will have a meaningful impact on the care of surgical patients, and the journal is pleased to provide its readership with the most innovative and impactful programs and processes as a resource on how this can be accomplished in a thoughtful way.