Department of Surgery of Symposium: "Survive or Thrive"

Department of Surgery Symposium

“Survive or Thrive: Finding Meaning in a Surgical Career at Every Stage”

• Saturday, November 7, 2026
• 7:30AM- 12:30PM
• MaRS Discovery District, Auditorium
• Full agenda here.

Who? Current & retired faculty members & surgical trainees.

Where? In-person @ MaRS Auditorium.

How? Speakers will share personal stories, career transitions & dislocations, strategies to recover & pivot. Format will consist of short presentations & extended audience discussion.

What? Topics include challenges & strategies in early practice, mid-career, in community practice & late career transitions, as well as peer-to-peer support, surgical ergonomics, the ASSET program & coaching & mentoring initiatives across specialties & the country.

Symposium learning objectives:

1. Identify the distinct challenges, opportunities, and transitions that commonly arise during early-, mid-, and late-career surgical practice.
2. Apply practical strategies to sustain professional meaning, personal wellbeing, relationships, and effective performance across a surgical career.
3. Distinguish among coaching, mentorship, peer support, and therapy, and identify when each form of support may be most useful.
4. Describe ergonomic principles and adaptations that can reduce occupational injury and support physical longevity in surgical practice.
5. Recognize how professional identity, career disruption, changing capacity, and transition can affect surgeons at different career stages.
6. Develop at least one personally relevant action or career-development priority based on the symposium discussions.
7. Identify opportunities to strengthen coaching, peer support, and career-development resources within surgical programs and professional communities.