Training of the Surgical Resident

To the Editor: Dr. King1 in editorializing on our article2 raises, but does not pursue, the issue of defining objectives for the graduate training of residents in general surgery. If we suggested objectives relevant to patient care, they would include, but by no means be limited to, a maximum exposure of residents to both hospitalized and ambulatory patients, with and without surgical conditions, in whose care the residents could exercise decision-making responsibility. Both the quantity and the quality of such an exposure can be measured. Quality has traditionally been measured, with varying degrees of success, by Board examinations and can.