Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast Intern Bootcamp: Resource Overload
Jul 1, 2025
18:03
RE-RELEASE
This was first published in 2023 but it's so good we are running it back!
Buckle up, PGY-1’s! Intern year is starting whether you’re ready or not. Don’t fret, BTK has your back to make sure you dominate the first year of residency.
This episode, we’ll tackle the resources that you should know about to support your own learning throughout residency.
Hosts: Shanaz Hossain, Nina Clark
Tips for new interns:
STRUCTURE YOUR STUDYING
- 2 things you need to do: (1) develop a knowledge base and (2) answer questions
- Knowledge base
This was first published in 2023 but it's so good we are running it back!
Buckle up, PGY-1’s! Intern year is starting whether you’re ready or not. Don’t fret, BTK has your back to make sure you dominate the first year of residency.
This episode, we’ll tackle the resources that you should know about to support your own learning throughout residency.
Hosts: Shanaz Hossain, Nina Clark
Tips for new interns:
STRUCTURE YOUR STUDYING
- 2 things you need to do: (1) develop a knowledge base and (2) answer questions
- Knowledge base
- Pick a level-appropriate textbook, read it (ideally all of it) yearly.
- Ideally, lead a little bit every day - 10 pages/day is a good goal to start with and you may need to adjust.
- Questions
Do some questions every week – 50/week is a good goal to start
Do some questions every week – 50/week is a good goal to start
- Plan to do more questions closer to ABSITE!
Consider storing everything you learn in one place – either a notebook you carry with you or a cloud-based note app
- Share this with others, use it to take notes while reading, doing cases, getting feedback, or gaining experience while taking care of patients every day.
SPECIFIC RESOURCES
- Textbooks
- Sabiston: big book, very dense, with a lot of great information.
- Schwartz: shorter chapters, clinically oriented, ideal for junior residents
- Cameron: shorter chapters, clinically oriented, ideal for senior residents
- ABSITE review books
- Fiser: Classic, packed with facts but can be difficult to read, good for looking things up quickly
- BTK ABSITE Companion: https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Knife-ABSITE-Review-Companion-ebook/dp/B0CLBZ273F/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3382SFZ81ZHKA&keywords=absite+review+behind+the+knife&qid=1698106031&sprefix=absite+review+behind+the+knife%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-2
- Question banks
- TrueLearn: high quality, can be pricy depending on program
- SCORE: written/edited by ABS, free for subscribing programs
LEARN HOW TO OPERATE??
- Carry suture and a needle driver with you and practice basic moves
- Consider a home suture kit for practice when you don’t want to be in sim lab – BTK released one this year
- Use VIDEOS to ensure learning things the correct way!
Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.
If you liked this episode, check out our new how-to video series on suture and knot-tying skills – https://behindtheknife.org/video-playlists/btk-suture-practice-kit-knot-tying-simulator-how-to-videos/
- Carry suture and a needle driver with you and practice basic moves
- Consider a home suture kit for practice when you don’t want to be in sim lab – BTK released one this year
- Use VIDEOS to ensure learning things the correct way!
Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.
If you liked this episode, check out our new how-to video series on suture and knot-tying skills – https://behindtheknife.org/video-playlists/btk-suture-practice-kit-knot-tying-simulator-how-to-videos/