Association of VA Surgeons annual resident paper award winners: career paths following completion of postgraduate training

The aims of this study are to track those AVAS podium resident prize winners and to determine patterns of fellowship training type of practice, and primary area of specialization and whether their prize winning paper reflects their current area of specialization today. We also determined whether these residents, once completing their training, ever practiced at a VA hospital, and, whether they have been or currently are members of the AVAS. There have been 43 residents who have won 46 podium awards during this 18 year period. Three/46 (6%) awards were won by a resident twice during different years. Among the 42 locatable residents, 3/42 (7%) are still in surgery training. Among those 39 who are in practice, 30/39 (76%) undertook a clinical fellowship and 22/39 (56%) are in an academic setting. Only 3/39 (8%) has ever worked at a VA hospital; all 3 are currently members of the AVAS. Among those with a specific area of clinical or research specialization (n = 32), in 25/32 (78%), their paper reflects their current area of specialization. Among our cohort of annual AVAS resident prize winners most have taken fellowship training. Greater than 50% pursue academic practice. Among those with an area of specialization, their prize winning paper reflects on their current area of specialization today. Few have ever worked in a VA hospital and thus few have ever been members of the AVAS.