Evaluation and Milestones

Evaluation of the Residents
Each resident receives a clinical evaluation at the completion of each rotation, which may last from 1 to 3 months, depending on postgraduate year. In addition, at the completion of each academic year a composite evaluation of each resident is made by the Department of Surgery Graduate Medical Education Committee to review the overall clinical evaluations, ABSITE scores, and research project. Evaluations are communicated to each resident biannually by their faculty advisor and Clinical Competency Committee. Both the faculty advisor and the CCC meet with the residents and review all of the written evaluations to date. At that time the advisor will also discuss their research efforts, performance in Basic Science, Mock Orals and Simulation Lab. They will discuss concerns about the program, and desired goals and directions for their surgical careers. The residents are also advised to review their evaluations at the completion of each rotation. Residents always have access to their own evaluation files during regular business hours. If a resident is to receive an evaluation of unsatisfactory, the evaluating faculty will discuss this with the resident prior to submitting the evaluation. When this evaluation is received by the program director, he will again discuss this evaluation with the resident promptly. The goal of this policy is for deficiencies and problems in performance to be identified as soon as possible so that the appropriate corrective action may be taken and milestones can be achieved. 

Resident Evaluation of the Program
At the completion of each rotation, each resident will complete a standardized evaluation form designed and provided by the Office of Graduate Medical Education of the MUSC College of Medicine. Evaluation of the utility of the clinical rotation is included with evaluation of faculty teaching skills. Such evaluations are submitted in a confidential manner to the Residency Program Coordinator and reviewed by the Program Director. At the completion of the academic year the faculty evaluations are tabulated, summarized, and provided to the Department Chairman, Program Director, and each faculty member within the Department. In addition, each faculty member receives his own evaluation. Evaluations of the clinical rotations are collated and provided in an anonymous fashion to the Department Chairman, Program Director, and Section Heads of the services. In the event of a serious acute problem in resident evaluation of either faculty or rotation, this information is discussed immediately with the Section Head by the Program Director in order to initiate corrective action. The overall collated information of faculty evaluations and clinical rotations is discussed by the Department of Surgery Graduate Medical Education Committee during the planning sessions for the upcoming year. 

Residents are also invited to a quarterly resident informational meeting with the Program Director and Department Chair. Chief Residents meet weekly with the Program Director and Department Chair to discuss program or hospital issues in a time sensitive manner.