Constants and Currents in the Education and Training of General Thoracic Surgeons.

Teaching multiple, evolving surgical approaches to thoracic surgical residents at a time of decreasing surgeon volume, increasing scrutiny of quality, greater demands on surgical efficiency, and reduced resident work hours requires a new mindset and new methods of education. The challenge presented to general thoracic surgeon educators and residents is explained, and encouragement is drawn from the examples of previous educational crises and their solutions.