Helping Applicants Write Their Way into a Surgical Residency

Authors

  • Curt Tribble, MD Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1532/hsf.5189

Abstract

So, you’ve got students clamoring for help writing their personal statements for Surgery Residency applications? Writing a personal statement for an application to a residency program is often one of the most daunting aspects of the application process. In fact, it is probably the most daunting part of that process. However, there is a surprising paucity of information about how best to approach writing these residency application essays, in stark contrast to the plentiful advice available for other types of applications, such as those required for college or medical school admission.

References

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Additional References

Purdy A, Smith B, Amersi F, Calhoun K et al. 2022. Characteristics Associated with Outstanding General Surgery Residency Graduate Performance, as Rated by Surgical Educators. JAMA Surg

doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2022.3340. Published online August 10, 2022. (Note: Surgical judgement and leadership had the strongest association with graduates considered to be outstanding.)

Hayek S, Buonpane C, Hummel C et al. 2020. How Applicants to Surgical Residency Define Resilience. J Surg Educ 77: 799-804. doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.02.011 (Note: Resilience is related to 5 components of emotional resilience, which are: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.)

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Tribble C. 2020. The Mental Strategies of Surgeons, A Primer, Part I. The Heart Surgery Forum 23(6): 927-36. doi:10.1532/hsf.3593

Tribble C. 2021. The Mental Strategies of Surgeons: A Primer, Part II. The Heart Surgery Forum 24(1): 1-8. doi:10.1532/hsf.3755 (Note: This two part essay was written, at least partly, to help writers of personal statements. Pay particular attention to the concept of ‘throughlines.’)

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Published

2022-11-30

How to Cite

Tribble, C. (2022). Helping Applicants Write Their Way into a Surgical Residency . The Heart Surgery Forum, 25(5). https://doi.org/10.1532/hsf.5189

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