In places across the country, it’s spring. March Madness is ending, flowers are sprouting, gardens are being planted, and trees are budding. In the vascular trainee world, there is frantic preparation for the end of another academic year and the start of a new one.
There are new residents preparing to come into the workforce (congrats on the Match!) and, soon, there’ll be a new crop of fellows, too (May 1, here we come!). Add to the mix the new attendings fresh out of training who are trying to soak up all the knowledge they can before graduating.
In this month’s column, I wanted to touch on some programs and textbooks that might be helpful to the vascular surgical trainee and interested medical student. This is not exhaustive by any means.
The first resource is The Vascular Surgery Review Book by Dr. Thomas Creeden, who is a graduating integrated resident at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester. I’ve heard this book described as a “first aid” for vascular surgery. It comes highly recommended as a great title to have and annotate while studying for in-service exams and Boards. Written by a current trainee in the trenches of train- ing, it’s a high-yield review.
The next resource comes from across the pond. It’s an online and paperback book, titled All You Need to Know About Vascular Surgery. Written by vascular surgical trainees and attendings (consultants, as they’re referred to in England), this book aims to bring home basic concepts of vascular surgery, diagnoses and treatment paradigms to a general audience of health professions.
This includes—but is not limited to—medical students, nurses, general practitioners and junior surgical trainees. The best part is that it’s free, online. Published by the Vascular Society of Great Britain & Ireland, it is another great re- source for sub-interns and the incoming interns.
Last is a resource for graduating fellows and residents. The Advanced Vascular Surgical Skills & Simulation Assessment Program is a unique program geared specifically to the graduating trainee. Drs. O.W. Brown and Mark Mattos, two seasoned vascular surgeons, have put together an incredible course that seeks to help the trainee answer one question: “Are you ready for practice?” The curriculum consists of simulations of various common vascular surgeries that you should be able to perform independently on graduation. It’s a combination of open and endovascular simulation, and the proc- tors are senior attendings, some of whom are department chairs, at various institutions across the country. Taking place in January every year, it’s a great way to find out areas to focus on clinically in the ensuing six months before graduation. In addition, since it consists of primarily senior trainees, it’s a great place to network for jobs. I did it this year, and truly enjoyed learning how I can become an even more skilled surgeon—I have been working on items pointed out to me during the event. Look out for the invite to apply. It’s funded for travel.
In the meantime, here’s to a productive spring 2024!
Christopher Audu, MD, is the Vascular Specialist resident/ fellow editor.
