The Effect of a Global Surgery Resident Rotation on Physician Practices Following Residency: The Mount Sinai Experience.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of the study was to evaluate the impact of Mount Sinai's international rotation on physician practices and attitudes following residency.

DESIGN

An anonymous, retrospective study was conducted using an email survey. The initial survey was sent out in July 2015 with a second opportunity in September 2015.

SETTING

Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City.

PARTICIPANTS

All 62 graduates of the Mount Sinai General and Plastic Surgery residencies who participated in the international rotation over the last 10 years.

RESULTS

The primary outcome was level of involvement in service medicine with a secondary outcome examining participants views on the value of international rotations during residency. The response rate for the survey was 71% (44/62). Since leaving residency, 53% have been involved in one or more types of service medicine, 59% have been involved in at least one experience practicing medicine in an underserved area and 45% state that their current practice incorporates global surgery or service. 61% report that the rotation encouraged an interest in practicing in an underserved area and 44% (8/18) of those with no prior interest in global health reported that the rotation encouraged an interest. Respondents generally believe global health work could be rewarding (89%), provide opportunity for professional development (77%), and that residency should include global health electives (93%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that a mandatory global health rotation may encourage an interest in service medicine. Thus, program directors should continue to provide and encourage participation in international rotations during surgical residency.