Preface

Dear Reader:

We created this book because we felt we needed a comprehensive study resource like this to help us prepare for our oral boards and none existed at the time. In terms of subject matter, this book aims to cover the majority of the topics on the SCORE curriculum and present them in a format that is practical for group study and self-quizzing.

Topics on the SCORE curriculum are categorized as either core or advanced. In this book, each chapter begins with a list of topics. Core topics and operations are denoted with a “c,” while advanced topics are labeled with an “a.” Additionally, you will see some topics that do not have a “c” or an “a” – these are topics that weren’t explicitly listed on the SCORE curriculum but that we thought could potentially be useful.

General tips to prepare for the oral boards:

• - Give yourself at least 2–3 months to study. Make a plan and stick to it, so you are not stressed and cramming in the last 1–2 weeks before your exam.

• - Focus on mastering the core topics initially, and then once you have those covered, start working on the advanced topics.

• - Incorporate multiple different studying formats into your study plan including practicing scenarios with a peer, study books, podcasts, and/or a review course.

• - Complications will often arise in scenarios – it does not necessarily mean you made a mistake, so don’t let this rattle you.

• - In this book, we describe the steps of operations the way we learned to do them, however there are often multiple other acceptable ways to perform them.

• - Hopefully your program is helping to prepare you by administering mock oral exams. Take these mock oral exams seriously and study hard. If your program doesn’t coordinate formal mocks orals, then meet up with your co-residents and practice together on a regular basis throughout your residency.

• - Please refer to the American Board of Surgery website for the most up to date information and a copy of the SCORE curriculum.

We hope that you will find this book to be helpful in your oral boards studying endeavors as well as for preparing for daily life as a surgical resident.