TRACK(S): GER

Moderator: Susan E. Pories, MD, FACS, Cambridge, MA

Surgeons routinely face a host of challenges inherent to surgical practice: the physical connection of surgical practice to outcomes, the culture of surgery, which has historically prized accomplishment over the needs of self and family, and the intensity of illness that surgeons confront. The toll that these challenges bring has been tied to burnout among surgeons and adverse consequences for them, personally and professionally. In order to withstand these challenges, surgeons must develop strategies and behaviors that promote resilience. The panel will use an evidence-based approach to discuss specific tools that can be used to create resilience including practices that benefit individual surgeons and, importantly, changes in care processes and structures within institutions that will impact multiple surgeons.

Presentations and Speakers

The Importance of Peer Support in the Aftermath of Errors
Stanley W. Ashley, MD, FACS, Boston, MA

Management of the Acute Response to Stresses and Frustrations
Sharmila Dissanaike, MD, FACS, Lubbock, TX

Advocating for System Changes to Improve Workflow and Patient Care
Carla Marie Pugh, MD, PhD, FACS, Stanford, CA

Recalibration and Reflection
Emily B. Rivet, MD, MBA, FACS, FASCRS, Richmond, VA

Recognizing and Responding to Distress in Your Colleagues and Yourself
Susan Pories, MD