Surgical Education Formal research training during surgical residency: scaffolding for academic success Helen Hsieh, M.D. a , Francis Paquette, M.D. a , Shannon A. Fraser, M.D. a , Liane S. Feldman, M.D. b , Sarkis Meterissian, M.D. b , Gerald M. Fried, M.D. b , Simon Bergman, M.D. a,c, * a Department of Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University; b Department of Surgery, McGill University Health Center; c Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, Que´bec, Canada KEYWORDS: Education; Research training; Residency Abstract BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a formal surgical research program (leading to a postgraduate degree) during residency, on future research productivity. METHODS: We surveyed all North American graduates of the McGill University general surgery residency program between 1987 and 2005. The survey included questions on research involvement before, during, and after general surgery residency. This was combined with a literature search reveal- ing all research publications of the participants. Outcomes were the yearly average of publications and awarded funding as faculty members. RESULTS: Seventy-five of 119 graduates (63%) responded. Staff physicians who had participated in formal research programs during residency (n 5 35), compared with those who had not (n 5 40), pro- duced more publications per year (2.8 6 2.3 vs 1.1 6 1.2, P , .01) and had greater funding success (81% vs 55%, P 5 .03). CONCLUSIONS: Residents who had participated in formal research programs during residency were more likely to have greater academic success. Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. A significant proportion of surgical trainees extend their training by an extra 1 to 3 years to participate in research programs during residency. 1 Research training during surgi- cal residency is generally considered, by surgical trainees and program directors alike, to be a valuable adjunct to their education and a formative experience in their career devel- opment. 1,2 Despite this emphasis on research at an early stage, funding by national organizations for surgeon- scientists has declined. In recent years, not only has the number of grant applications by surgeons decreased, but the percentage of awarded funding is now 30% less com- pared with physicians from other specialties. 3 Some warn that the ‘‘extinction’’ of the surgeon-scientist is a looming threat. 2,4 Multiple barriers exist in the development of surgeon- scientists. For trainees, increasing educational debt and lost income associated with a prolonged residency provide a strong incentive to defer a research career. 5 In the era of work-hour restrictions, research activities may be seen as an additional force competing for residents’ time. With a calculated expense of $41.5 million to train .600 research fellows during residency every year in the United States, the investment required to nurture surgeon-scientists may The authors declare no conflicts of interest. * Corresponding author. Tel.: 11-514-340-8222 ext. 4611; fax: 11- 514-340-7937. E-mail address: simon.bergman@mcgill.ca Manuscript received November 16, 2012; revised manuscript April 17, 2013 0002-9610/$ - see front matter Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2013.04.011 The American Journal of Surgery (2014) 207, 141-145