Need for More Rural Surgeons Is Urgent

The shortage of surgeons in rural areas is well-known; however, with the impending retirement of a large number of rural surgeons, it’s more important than ever to cultivate a new generation of surgeons who practice in rural areas.

An article in the March issue of the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons, “The Need to Prepare More Surgeons for Rural Practice Is Urgent,” features perspectives from three rural surgeons with practices in the US and Canada—ACS Regent Gary L. Timmerman, MD, FACS, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Brent E. Nykamp, MD, FACS, from Orange City, Iowa; and Lauren E. Smithson, MD, FACS, from the Great Northern Peninsula on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.

They describe the current rural surgery landscape, challenges to building a rural surgeon workforce, and ways to build the workforce in this practice setting.

Other articles in the March issue include the corporatization of healthcare, opioids in surgical care, and a legendary abdominal surgery from 1809.

Review the full March Bulletin table of contents.