Evolving Role of the Physician Researcher in Medicine

The Transformed Department of Surgery at the University of Rochester

The Department of Surgery at the University of Rochester has undergone significant transformations over the past few years, becoming a leading institution in surgical education, research, and patient care.

Under the leadership of Chair David C. Linehan, MD, the department has expanded its faculty to 72, with a third being women and culturally representing 15 different countries. This diversity has been a key focus for the department, with Linehan personally interviewing top applicants for residency spots to ensure a collegial and inclusive environment.

The department's commitment to diversity extends beyond its faculty. In 2017, the first all-female class of residents graduated from the department, marking a significant milestone in gender equality.

The department has also made strides in research, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Linehan's lab is currently running 10 trials, and he aims to increase the number of patients enrolled. The department is a national leader in robotic kidney transplant surgery and performs over 100 kidney transplants and 50 complex hepatobiliary surgeries each year.

To address the issue of resident burnout, the department has implemented a resident wellness program. This program provides clinical psychologist support and communication coaching, aiming to improve the overall well-being of residents.

The department's training programs are innovative, combining wet lab, dry lab, simulation, and video review to provide specific feedback to trainees. Residents are encouraged to spend one to two years conducting research, with opportunities to work in a lab, earn an advanced degree, or participate in the interdepartmental Surgical Health Outcomes and Research Enterprise (SHORE).

The department's clinical case volume has increased by more than 20 percent in the past five years, with the help of five da Vinci robots, key tools in the department's efforts to expand the use of minimally invasive procedures to hasten recovery time.

The department is also home to several unique programs, including the region's only programs in pediatric cardiac surgery and living-donor liver transplant, its only nationally accredited program in rectal surgery, and the sole simulation program for robotic surgery.

The department's history is rich, dating back to King Henry VIII's castle, where a department of surgery was set up and staffed with skilled barbers. The barber-surgeon model was exported to the American Colonies, but eventually, barber-surgeons were stripped of their hyphen and relegated to shaving and haircutting.

The department follows the biopsychosocial model of training surgeons, understanding the complexities of patient needs. This model, pioneered by University physicians George Engel and John Romano, is based on the theory that biological, psychological, and social factors are integral parts of human health.

In conclusion, the Department of Surgery at the University of Rochester has made remarkable strides in recent years, becoming a beacon of innovation, diversity, and excellence in surgical education, research, and patient care.