Our Work

OpTrust® Educational Bundle

The Education Research Collaborative team has developed the OpTrust Educational Bundle for professional development among surgeons.  This faculty and resident professional development focuses on entrustment education, goal orientated personality traits, and the validated OpTrust Measurement System as a means to objectively and accurately assess intraoperative entrustment and entrustability. 

The OpTrust Educational Bundle successfully promotes behaviors associated with entrustment during intraoperative faculty-resident interactions, and has the potential to be adopted across other procedural-based specialties to promote graduated autonomy during supervised training.

Diagram of a resident observing a surgical procedure (faculty operating, resident observing)
Phase 1:Resident Observing
Diagram of resident operating in first assist role (faculty leading, resident assisting)
Phase 2:Resident Operating in First Assist Role
Diagram of resident operating with faculty in first assist role (faculty assisting, resident leading)
Phase 3:Resident Operating with Faculty in First Assist Role
Diagram of a senior resident taking a junior resident through a case (senior resident leading, junior resident assisting, faculty observing)
Phase 4:Senior Resident Takes Junior Resident Through Case

Professional Development & Workshops

We support lifelong learning and professional development for faculty and residents. Please contact ERSC to request any of the following workshops:

Dr. Sandhu talking to students in a classroom.
Surgical team in the operating room

Teaching & Learning

We strive to lead and contribute to research in surgical teaching and learning, develop curriculum and professional opportunities, and advance feedback methods. 

Members of the ERSC are actively involved in the Surgical Education Research Fellowship. The ERSC team also participates in the Residents as Educators (RAE) Program, an interactive curriculum introducing teaching approaches and methods such as deliberate teaching, perioperative teaching models, and feedback. We also work with programs such as MEDPREP, Medical Students in Global Surgery, Department of Learning Health Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in Surgery

The Education Research Sciences Collaborative serves and welcomes all segments of the medical/surgical community to engage in forward thinking research, teaching, and assessment. We strive to provide fair and equal opportunity, treatment and access to surgical research sciences while attempting to eliminate possible barriers that have hindered participation by some groups. 

Members of the ERSC are actively involved in Doctors of Tomorrow (DoT), Michigan Women’s Surgical Collaborative (MWSC), Global Health Initiatives, and Medical Students in Global Surgery.

Student taking another student's blood pressure during Doctors of Tomorrow program
Trainees sitting in an auditorium

Assessment & Evaluation

The ERSC encourages assessment, evaluation, and facilitates the systematic process of documenting and collecting empirical data on learner knowledge, skills, attitudes and beliefs. Through assessment and evaluation, the teacher/learner interaction can be measured and ultimately improved. 

The ERSC team is involved in the Milestones Assessment and Evaluation Committee (MAEC) and the Clinical Competency Committee (CCC) for ACGME Core Competencies. Members of the ERSC are also actively involved in American Board of Surgery Entrustable Professional Activities (ABS EPAs)

Surgeon & Resident Wellbeing

We collaborate with surgeons to understand burnout, develop and support wellness initiatives, and facilitate educational sessions. Our work is informed by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. One specific research initiative focuses on the association among psychological safety, wellbeing and factors in the clinical learning environment to guide the development of meaningful strategies.

Members of the ERSC are actively involved in Michigan Action Progress System (MAPS), Wellness & Environment Resident Life Directors, COMPASS Peer Support Network, and the Michigan Medicine Wellness Office.

Learn More

Contact kalimank@med.umich.edu to find out more about our work and how to collaborate with us.