Surgery Resident Education 1986–2008: Effort, Respect, and Advocacy

Excerpt

In July 1986, when I was one of six residents fortunate to begin the General Surgery Residency at UCSF, Dr. Orlo Clark had ascended to Professor of Surgery and was the chair of the committee charged with oversight of our residency training. Throughout the subsequent 7 years, Dr. Clark was a central figure in our training. He formed us in that crucible by convincing us of his absolute commitment to our betterment, and his unflagging belief that we could, in fact, be made into surgeons. This was in spite of frequent, incontrovertible evidence to the contrary. In retrospect, his principled approach to our training—to those thousands of small decisions that shaped the program—was based on his willingness to treat us with respect as adults who had chosen to commit to his beloved profession. …