The pursuit of excellence in graduate surgical education: Visions of the arizona experience

A unique experiment in graduate surgical education is described. The premise is set forth that there exists a discipline called human biology worthy of formal graduate study, most logically carried out in a department of surgery. Study in this program was specifically goal-oriented rather than time-oriented, with goals individually tailored to each student. Emphasis was on flexibility of progression, individual achievement, original thought and rigorous logical analysis of fundamental problems in surgical biology. The purpose of such a program was to produce life-time students of human biology rather than mere residents hurdling a demoralizing obstacle. Although long-term data are not available, the conviction of those who participated in the experiment is that such a purpose was and can be uniquely fulfilled. Wider acceptance of these principles should lead to higher standards of surgical care.