The Effect of a Global Surgery Resident Rotation on Physician Practices Following Residency: The Mount Sinai Experience

Objective: The goal of the study was to evaluate the impact of Mount Sinai's international rotation on physician practices and attitudes following residency. Design: An anonymous, retrospective study was conducted using an email survey. The initial survey was sent out in July 2015 with a second opportunity in September 2015. Setting: Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City. Participants: All 62 graduates of the Mount Sinai General and Plastic Surgery residencies who participated in the international rotation over the last 10 years. Results: The primary outcome was level of involvement in service medicine with a secondary outcome examining participants views on the value of international rotations during residency. The response rate for the survey was 71% (44/62). Since leaving residency, 53% have been involved in one or more types of service medicine, 59% have been involved in at least one experience practicing medicine in an underserved area and 45% state that their current practice incorporates global surgery or service. 61% report that the rotation encouraged an interest in practicing in an underserved area and 44% (8/18) of those with no prior interest in global health reported that the rotation encouraged an interest. Respondents generally believe global health work could be rewarding (89%), provide opportunity for professional development (77%), and that residency should include global health electives (93%). Conclusions: Our results suggest that a mandatory global health rotation may encourage an interest in service medicine. Thus, program directors should continue to provide and encourage participation in international rotations during surgical residency.