Search

Introduction: The Australian and New Zealand Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary Association (ANZHPBA) post-fellowship training program stands in the unique position of being one of only two worldwide to formalise post-fellowship education of hepatic, pancreatic, and biliary (HPB) surgeons. Over the ten years since its inception, the program has become the sought-after credential in the armament of aspiring HPB surgeons throughout Australia and New Zealand. Despite this, no formal review process has occurred to allow previous trainees to reflect on the training they received. Method(s): The ANZHPBA endorsed the distribution of an electronic survey to the 50 trainees who had completed their training. The survey consisted of 41 questions describing the experience of HPB training during their fellowship. It was available for completion on-line between May and November, 2019. Result(s): 39 respondents completed the survey resulting in a 78% response rate. Operative experience and surgical teaching during training was considered positive by 80% and 87% respectively. 64% of respondents felt adequately prepared for consultant practice upon completion of the program, with 85% currently employed as an HPB surgeon, and 67% working in a tertiary-level centre. Just over half of the respondents felt there could be changes made to the training program with the most frequent suggestions to increase the length of training and modernising the assessment and feedback process. Conclusion(s): The ANZHPBA fellowship provides a surgical education that trainees describe as adequate for consultant HPB practice, with the majority of graduates employed in that capacity following completion of the program.Copyright © 2020

Introduction: The Australian and New Zealand Hepatic, Pancreatic and Biliary Association (ANZHPBA) post-fellowship training program stands in the unique position of being one of only two worldwide to formalise post-fellowship education of hepatic, pancreatic, and biliary (HPB) surgeons. Over the ten years since its inception, the program has become the sought-after credential in the armament of aspiring HPB surgeons throughout Australia and New Zealand. Despite this, no formal review process has occurred to allow previous trainees to reflect on the training they received. Method(s): The ANZHPBA endorsed the distribution of an electronic survey to the 50 trainees who had completed their training. The survey consisted of 41 questions describing the experience of HPB training during their fellowship. It was available for completion on-line between May and November, 2019. Result(s): 39 respondents completed the survey resulting in a 78% response rate. Operative experience and surgical teaching during training was considered positive by 80% and 87% respectively. 64% of respondents felt adequately prepared for consultant practice upon completion of the program, with 85% currently employed as an HPB surgeon, and 67% working in a tertiary-level centre. Just over half of the respondents felt there could be changes made to the training program with the most frequent suggestions to increase the length of training and modernising the assessment and feedback process. Conclusion(s): The ANZHPBA fellowship provides a surgical education that trainees describe as adequate for consultant HPB practice, with the majority of graduates employed in that capacity following completion of the program.Copyright © 2020