Making the Transition from Trainee to Practicing Surgeon: Perspectives from Academic, Private Practice, and Military

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

Location: 139

Disclosure(s):

Marilene B. Wang, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Justin P. McCormick, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Taylor R. Carle, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Jakob L. Fischer, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Residency and fellowship training involves many years of hard work, gaining proficiency in surgery, office procedures, patient care, and numerous other technical skills. In addition, competencies in professionalism, teamwork, communication, and collaboration are honed during these years. However, the transition from trainee to practicing surgeon may not be easy, as one moves from a relatively protected subordinate position into an independent professional. Many surprises await as one enters the workforce, and there are lessons to be learned that are not covered during training. In this panel we will share experiences of three individuals who have made the transition from fellowship training into different practices, including academic, private, and military Each will describe their journey after training, including tips on what they wished they had been taught during residency and fellowship. Discussion topics will include contract negotiation, interactions with institutional/administrative leadership, coding/billing/reimbursement issues, relationships with partners and support staff, building a practice, medicolegal risk management, career advancement, maintaining physical and mental health, financial planning, and work/life/family balance. Panelists will offer valuable advice to others in the audience who are anticipating or experiencing similar transitions. Training program directors and faculty will also learn how they can better prepare their trainees for the workplace.

Learning Objectives:

To discuss the transition process from trainee to practicing surgeon.
To describe skills and issues that may not have been learned during training but are valuable as a practicing surgeon.
To advise on ways to improve training to better prepare trainees for the real-world workplace.

Moderator(s)

Marilene B. Wang, MD

Professor
UCLA Head and Neck Surgery
Los Angeles, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Panelist(s)

JM

Justin P. McCormick, MD

Assistant Professor
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Bridgewater , NJ, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Taylor R. Carle, MD

Otolaryngologist
Cedars Sinai
Pasadena, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
JF

Jakob L. Fischer, MD

Rhinologist
Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.