According to a report in Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News, professional surgical education societies are urging surgical residents and program directors to prepare for the new educational endoscopy requirement.
Here's what you should know.
1. Daniel Scott, MD, the current president of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, is imploring residents and program directors to begin their preparations for the endoscopy requirement now.
2. Beginning in the 2017-2018 academic year, graduating residents will have to provide documentation that they're certified in an endoscopy curriculum before attempting the ABS General Surgery Qualifying Exam.
3. The requirement is a comprehensive curriculum that concludes with a "high-stakes didactic and hands-on exam called fundamentals of endoscopic surgery."
4. Dr. Scott recommends fourth-year residents to sign up for the fundamentals of endoscopic surgery exam earlier to ensure residents have enough time to retake the exam, if it's required.