The Contemporary Context of Surgical Education

Overview The development of a competent surgeon has evolved over centuries from a predominantly apprenticeship model to one that incorporates modern theories of learning accompanied by increasing awareness of the significant contribution from the hidden curriculum. Increasing public awareness and demands from educators and trainees have emphasised the importance of nontechnical competencies. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons has determined nine core competencies as a basic requirement for surgical training. It has responded to emerging demands by the introduction of formal educational processes supporting the development of an educationally aware surgical teaching community. A challenge for surgical training is to balance the increasing demands on the surgical education workforce while delivering an expanded surgical curriculum that best serves the modern community. This chapter explores the changing field of surgical education and provides an overview of the future challenges.