Improving Parental Support in Surgical Training: Policies and Practices

The Need for Parental Support in Surgery

• 🏥 Surgical residency is demanding, requiring trainees to prioritize patient care amidst long hours and high expectations.
• 🤰 Becoming a parent during training introduces unique challenges, including navigating pregnancy risks, parental leave, and lactation logistics within a system not designed for it.
• ⚠️ Research indicates childbearing surgeons face higher rates of pregnancy complications, and the mental health impact is substantial when programs lack adequate support.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Recent studies highlight that the lack of support negatively impacts non-childbearing parents as well.

Origins of Advocacy and Policy Development

• 🤝 Drs. Arielle Kanters and Sarah Shubeck were inspired to address parental support issues after experiencing personal struggles with lactation and professional obligations during their own residencies.
• 💡 Their shared frustration led to the development of the University of Michigan guidelines for the wellness of lactating surgical residents and a policy on parental leave and lactation support.
• 🚀 This work aims to make parental support the norm, not the exception, by providing practical, evidence-based steps for surgical programs.

Redefining Parental Support as a Wellness Issue

• 🎯 Parental support policies are viewed as a reflection of a program's broader commitment to resident wellness and support.
• 🗣️ The goal is to make parenthood in surgery less extraordinary and to provide a shared language and confidence for trainees seeking support.
• ⚖️ Policies are intentionally designed to be gender-neutral, focusing on the needs of a 'lactating adult' and 'parenthood' rather than specific genders.

Strategies for Programmatic Change

• 🔑 Leadership must take the onus for establishing support systems, anticipating needs rather than placing the burden on residents.
• 🤝 Creating supportive policies provides a