Resident Attrition in Post Graduate Surgical Training

Resident attrition is a significant issue facing graduate surgical education, with broad implications for trainees, their families, educators, and society at large. Resident attrition is costly and often may represent a poor initial selection process, inadequate training in medical school, or insufficient feedback and mentoring while the resident is in the postgraduate program. Promoting an environment that encourages mentorship may be an important first step to help residents maximize their professional potential. The successful mentoring of surgical residents is crucial because the entire specialty depends on how today's residents face tomorrow's challenges.