*Purpose: The demand for training in abdominal transplantation has continued to decrease. General surgery residents have less exposure to transplant surgery, creating a need for intentional trainee engagement. There is limited knowledge to inform recruitment practices, thus we aimed to understand the training experiences of the rising transplant surgery workforce.

*Methods: A 38 question survey was distributed to 324 trainee members of the ASTS about early exposure to transplant surgery and mentorship. Open-ended questions regarding career goals and recruitment experiences were included. Descriptive statistics were performed. Narrative responses were coded for content and reported thematically.

*Results: 94 ASTS trainee members responded to the survey (29% response rate). 57% of participants had exposure to transplant surgery in medical school. This correlated with a higher interest level in the specialty at the beginning of residency (correlation = 1.19, p<0.05). Most trainees felt supported by transplant faculty during research time (64%) and their fellowship application cycle (73%). Narrative responses concurred with survey findings and identified three key themes: career aspirations, role models, and positive training experiences. Career aspirations included a desire for academic practice and work-life balance. Participants identified approachability and visible leadership as key attributes of role models. Positive early experiences included faculty mentorship and participation in transplant operations.

*Conclusions: Early exposure to transplant surgery can optimize interest and recruitment in the specialty. Positive medical school experiences were common in the training narrative of participants. Participants reported having strong mentorship in the field, highlighting the importance of individual faculty mentorship practices to promote recruitment.

« Back to 2021 American Transplant Congress