To leave or not to leave: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) panel discussion on personal, parental, and family leave

Navigating planned and emergent leave during medical practice is very confusing to most physicians. This is especially challenging to the trauma and acute care surgeon, whose practice is unique due to overnight in-hospital call, alternating coverage of different services, and trauma center’s staffin...

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Main Authors: Daniel N Holena, Robert D Winfield, Ben L Zarzaur, Tareq Kheirbek, Jennifer Hartwell, Brittany K Bankhead, Danielle L Hashmi, Nicole A Stassen, Shannon M Foster
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2023-11-01
Series:Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open
Online Access:https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001104.full
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author Daniel N Holena
Robert D Winfield
Ben L Zarzaur
Tareq Kheirbek
Jennifer Hartwell
Brittany K Bankhead
Danielle L Hashmi
Nicole A Stassen
Shannon M Foster
author_facet Daniel N Holena
Robert D Winfield
Ben L Zarzaur
Tareq Kheirbek
Jennifer Hartwell
Brittany K Bankhead
Danielle L Hashmi
Nicole A Stassen
Shannon M Foster
author_sort Daniel N Holena
collection DOAJ
description Navigating planned and emergent leave during medical practice is very confusing to most physicians. This is especially challenging to the trauma and acute care surgeon, whose practice is unique due to overnight in-hospital call, alternating coverage of different services, and trauma center’s staffing challenges. This is further compounded by a surgical culture that promotes the image of a ‘tough’ surgeon and forgoing one’s personal needs on behalf of patients and colleagues. Frequently, surgeons find themselves having to make a choice at the crossroads of personal and family needs with work obligations: to leave or not to leave. Often, surgeons prioritize their professional commitment over personal wellness and family support. Extensive research has been conducted on the topic of maternity leave and inequality towards female surgeons, primarily focused on trainees. The value of paternity leave has been increasingly recognized recently. Consequently, significant policy changes have been implemented to support trainees. Practicing surgeon, however, often lack such policy support, and thus may default to local culture or contractual agreement. A panel session at the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma 2022 annual meeting was held to discuss the current status of planned or unanticipated leave for practicing surgeons. Experiences, perspectives, and propositions for change were discussed, and are presented here.
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spelling doaj-art-3e98755930b64047a4e83aa7ab0d87ee2025-08-20T02:09:52ZengBMJ Publishing GroupTrauma Surgery & Acute Care Open2397-57762023-11-018110.1136/tsaco-2023-001104To leave or not to leave: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) panel discussion on personal, parental, and family leaveDaniel N Holena0Robert D Winfield1Ben L Zarzaur2Tareq Kheirbek3Jennifer Hartwell4Brittany K Bankhead5Danielle L Hashmi6Nicole A Stassen7Shannon M Foster8Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USADepartment of Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USASurgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USADepartment of Surgery, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USADepartment of Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USADivision of Trauma, Burns, and Critical Care, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USADepartment of Surgery, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, Pennsylvania, USASurgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USAConsulting Services, Reading, Pennsylvania, USANavigating planned and emergent leave during medical practice is very confusing to most physicians. This is especially challenging to the trauma and acute care surgeon, whose practice is unique due to overnight in-hospital call, alternating coverage of different services, and trauma center’s staffing challenges. This is further compounded by a surgical culture that promotes the image of a ‘tough’ surgeon and forgoing one’s personal needs on behalf of patients and colleagues. Frequently, surgeons find themselves having to make a choice at the crossroads of personal and family needs with work obligations: to leave or not to leave. Often, surgeons prioritize their professional commitment over personal wellness and family support. Extensive research has been conducted on the topic of maternity leave and inequality towards female surgeons, primarily focused on trainees. The value of paternity leave has been increasingly recognized recently. Consequently, significant policy changes have been implemented to support trainees. Practicing surgeon, however, often lack such policy support, and thus may default to local culture or contractual agreement. A panel session at the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma 2022 annual meeting was held to discuss the current status of planned or unanticipated leave for practicing surgeons. Experiences, perspectives, and propositions for change were discussed, and are presented here.https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001104.full
spellingShingle Daniel N Holena
Robert D Winfield
Ben L Zarzaur
Tareq Kheirbek
Jennifer Hartwell
Brittany K Bankhead
Danielle L Hashmi
Nicole A Stassen
Shannon M Foster
To leave or not to leave: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) panel discussion on personal, parental, and family leave
Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open
title To leave or not to leave: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) panel discussion on personal, parental, and family leave
title_full To leave or not to leave: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) panel discussion on personal, parental, and family leave
title_fullStr To leave or not to leave: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) panel discussion on personal, parental, and family leave
title_full_unstemmed To leave or not to leave: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) panel discussion on personal, parental, and family leave
title_short To leave or not to leave: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) panel discussion on personal, parental, and family leave
title_sort to leave or not to leave american association for the surgery of trauma aast panel discussion on personal parental and family leave
url https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001104.full
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