Read about Value Congruence for Managing Burnout, Coding Updates, and More in New Bulletin

The January issue of the Bulletin is available to read online. This month’s cover article examines strategies to address burnout in surgical residency. While residency programs continue building an elaborate scaffolding of well-being programs to curb burnout, the strategies to mitigate this condition often have limited effects. Some experts suggest employing the concept of value congruence to “address the intersection between individual-, system-, and cultural-level components of burnout.”

Other highlights from this issue include:

Executive Director’s Update: Bringing Our Cancer Programs to All Who Need Them

This year, approximately 1.9 million people in the US will receive a cancer diagnosis. Of these, 74%, or about 1.3 million, will be treated in hospitals accredited by the ACS through the Commission on Cancer. Dr. Patricia Turner discusses the details of expanding the College’s long-standing commitment to cancer care. 

Surgeon-Authors Discover Literature Can Be “Incredibly Helpful” 

Narrative medicine is a subset of literature focused on the lived experience of illness, healing, and clinical medicine, written from the perspective of clinicians and patients. Meet several surgeons who write to help them process the emotional burdens of clinical work, strengthen professional competence, and “rehumanize medicine.”

2024 Coding Bundle

• New 2024 CPT Coding Changes Affect General Surgery, Related Specialties  
• What’s New for the Quality Payment Program in 2024
• How Will the 2024 MPFS Affect Your Practice?   

RAS Symposium Essay Contest Highlights Early Specialization and Integrated Subspecialty Training

RAS members weigh in on the benefits and drawbacks of early specialization and debate the potential impact on trainees, training programs, and surgical patients. 

Viewpoint: Ophthalmic Surgery in Egypt Thrives with Partnerships, Innovation, and Healthcare Reform

An ophthalmology resident, from Cairo, Egypt, shares her unique experiences as a trainee in Egypt and discusses how partnering with the ACS has encouraged growth in the field of ophthalmology, fostered international collaboration, and promoted excellence in patient care.

You will also find reports on sympathectomy and preventing surgical fires, as well as news on ACS Surgeon Well-Being, a recap of the TQIP Annual Conference, and more.