The Phoenix Children’s Surgical Collaborative is a faculty group that was formed to recruit, promote and retain surgeons across all divisions. Faculty collaboratives are being created at health systems across the nation to foster cultures that actively support surgeons as they work to achieve their career goals and pursue formidable positions with greater confidence.
In an effort to foster the ongoing need for peer support in surgery, surgeons from across the surgical department created the Surgical Collaborative modeled after several other successful programs in the nation with a goal to:
- Prepare each surgeon to achieve the highest level of excellence in clinical practice, research, leadership and education
- Advance surgeons' careers through mentorship, advocacy, professional development and networking
- Recruit and retain motivated and talented surgeons, physicians and scientists who will contribute to building a collaborative, nationally recognized physician team at Phoenix Children's
- Develop skills and strategies to be leaders in academic medicine on regional, national and international levels
- Collaborate with all physicians, as well as hospital leadership and community groups on local, regional and national levels
At Phoenix Children’s, it is our aim to support all of our surgeons in their career development, and help prevent burnout which ultimately will lead to better patient care. The unification of surgeons in groups like the Surgical Collaborative also promotes the positive perception of surgeons throughout society. In addition, we partner with our colleagues in medicine and anesthesia to collaborate across the hospital with all our physician partners.
Our Surgical Collaborative has already made notable progress since its inception in 2021:
- The team held a 6-week group coaching program for its members.
- New surgeons are welcomed to the group with a formal dinner.
- Senior members continue to mentor junior faculty, for example, with academic promotion.
- The group is involved in general recruitment efforts for the surgical departments.
- Exit interviews have been completed for all recent former surgeon faculty members.
- Yearly grand rounds speakers from the Collaborative present on timely topics related to the profession.
- Another notable accomplishment of the Collaborative is the creation of the Lactation Advocacy Champions program, an initiative born out of collaboration with a multidisciplinary lactation workgroup, and the Wellbeing Directors at Phoenix Children’s. The goal is to provide resources and support to enable all lactating employees at Phoenix Children’s to meet or exceed their breastfeeding goals.
The Lactation Advocacy Champions (LACs) are familiar with the four-page GME Lactation Policy and all of the lactation resources at Phoenix Children’s. The LACs serve as a source of support for the trainees and help them to craft their lactation accommodation plan upon their return from parental leave.
Currently, 25 of 36 divisions have a LAC representative to help, not only the trainees in that division, but any employee in the division who needs support with lactation at work. We recognize not all Phoenix Children’s employees are housed within a division, and we are committed to providing our services to everyone within the Phoenix Children’s Family.
Future goals for the group include a formal mentorship program for early career surgeons, as well as peer support programs for surgeons in all stages of their career.