I am a RAS-ACS member, resident in general surgery, and budding surgeon-scientist investigator who was fortunate to benefit from an RAS-ACS Leadership Scholarship sponsored by the Jeannette and H. Peter Kriendler Charitable Trust to attend the Clinical Trials Methods Course. Medical school and residency training help you to understand clinical trials and evaluate their findings, but clearly do not give you the tools and working knowledge necessary to plan and execute a successful trial.
Unlike other areas of medicine, surgical clinical trials require unique considerations and perspective when designing and carrying out a study. One of many benefits of the Clinical Trials Methods Course is the faculty of surgeons is familiar with surgical clinical trials, and have been involved with several of the multicenter clinical trials over the last decade. Additionally, the statistical faculty experts are well-versed in clinical trials methodology and offer a tremendous wealth of insight into trial design, analysis, and circumventing potential pitfalls.
The course is thorough, with sessions specifically discussing strategies to obtain funding, ethical considerations, and preparing for publication of trial results in addition to all the “nuts and bolts” sessions of clinical trials design and implementation. The course is structured with didactic lectures followed by small group focus sessions in which each group designs a clinical trial from start to finish with the aim of answering a clinical question of their choice. Working in small groups with other surgeons passionate about advancing clinical care and science was an exceptional experience.
I am pursuing a career as a surgeon-scientist with interests not only in the basic sciences, but also translational and clinical studies. The ability to investigate new surgical therapies, challenge the status quo and shape the future practice of medicine and surgery requires a specific skill set that one must develop. The ACS Clinical Trials Methods Course has helped me start to build that skill set and has given me confidence and insight that I will be able to use in the coming years as I finish my clinical training. The course was a phenomenal experience and greatly exceeded my expectations. I would encourage any surgeon or surgical resident aiming to be involved in clinical trials or research to attend.
