#APSA50: The Future and The Past

This is the next episode in our #APSA50 series, where we teamed up with the Behind the Knife Podcast to cover the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the American Pediatric Surgical Association. The coverage of the conference wouldn’t be complete without a little history lesson and guidance for the future. Drs Jim O’Neill, Jr. and Jo Shapiro join Rae Hanke, Alex Casar and Alex Gibbons to take a journey through the past and peak into the future. Throughout the discussion, we first review the journey of three pediatric surgery pioneers, Drs William Ladd, Herbert Coe, and Oswald Wyatt. Dr. O’Neill shares the efforts of H. William Clatworthy as he approached the American Board of Surgery to identify the reasoning for refusing Pediatric Surgery Board Certification. In brief this was due to the belief that we held no unique body of knowledge beyond general surgery, had no association with surgical roots, had no standard curriculum or standards for certification, and finally did not have a structure of governance. He goes on to detail how these objections were overcome, involving the foundation of APSA and JPS. Dr. O’Neill goes on to highlight the clinical, technical and educational advancements made over the past 50 years. He challenges us to even more so increase our educational collaboration amongst other pediatric specialists. In continuity with this call for change from Dr. O’Neill, Dr. Shapiro discusses another exciting opportunity for the future of pediatric surgery—improving physician well-being. She emphasizes the challenges we face and the necessity for operationalizing proactive peer support programs. By facing the traumatic events we experience, we will improve patient care by decreasing physician burnout, depression and suicide. Will you accept their challenge to increase educational collaboration and encourage wellness amongst those around you? Continue this conversation on the StayCurrentApp. Stay tuned for a few more APSA 2019 highlights captured by the Behind the Knife Podcast team. Time Stops: 00:00:23 Introduction 00:00:49 Journey of pediatric surgery pioneers 00:01:20 Three pioneers devoted to Pediatric Surgery: William Ladd, Herbert Coe, and Oswald Wyatt 00:03:48 H. William Clatworthy and his insight 00:04:09 Why can't pediatric surgery obtain boards? 00:05:13 Objection 1: no unique body of knowledge beyond general surgery 00:05:37 Objection 2: no association with surgical roots 00:05:55 Objection 3: no approved curriculum or metrics for certification 00:06:56 Objection 4: no structure of governance 00:07:28 Linchpins: APSA and JPS designed to meet perceived deficiencies 00:07:59 Since board approval: clinically, technologically, and educationally 00:09:16 Endorsement of other pediatric surgery subspecialties 00:09:45 Call for future collaboration—particularly in education 00:12:11 Opportunity for impact through APSA 00:12:58 Along with this incredible profession comes significant challenges 00:13:29 Operationalizing proactive Peer Support Program 00:14:06 Not facing traumatic events leads to burnout, depression and suicide 00:14:40 Our emotional and physical well-being impacts patient care 00:14:54 As caring individuals, we deserve care 00:15:07 Shift to embrace our humanity 00:15:42 Now, let's do something to improve well-being Intro track is adapted from "I dunno" by grapes, featuring J Lang, Morusque. Artist URL: ccmixter.org/files/grapes/16626