Series Overview

Target Audience

This activity is designed for UW Department of Surgery faculty, residents and other healthcare providers as well as all surgeons and clinicians in Wisconsin and across the country interested in clinical effectiveness and efficacy as it relates to patient care and disease processes. As defined by the American College of Surgeons, surgeons are expected to study and evaluate new procedures and to become competent and proficient with advances that are appropriate. Technical skill alone is not sufficient to qualify a surgeon to perform new procedures. Procedural skills must be acquired within the context of in‐depth knowledge about the natural course of a disease.

Elements of Competence

In addition to knowledge, this activity has been designed to change learner competence and focuses on the American Board of Medical Specialties areas of improvement of medical knowledge.

Practice Gaps

The professional practice gap exists because with increased surgical specialization, there is a tendency toward a deepening but narrowing of knowledge. Grand Rounds is designed to broaden faculty’s surgical knowledge base by having specialists share their knowledge with non‐specialists. This forum also challenges faculty presenters to communicate effectively with non‐specialists.