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Guidelines on Family Leave for Surgical Trainees

 

These guidelines summarize the American Board of Surgery leave policies and minimum requirements to complete training, according to each training program (both ACGME and non-ACGME programs in the Department of Surgery).

One of the education administrative staff will provide detailed information about family leave and guide you through the necessary paperwork.

Refer to “UCSF General Surgery Residency Parental Leave Resource” for further details about family leave paperwork.

 

American Board of Surgery: General Surgery Training Requirements

Time requirements for Training: needs to be completed by the end of August to be eligible for General Surgery Qualifying Exam

  • At least 48 weeks of full-time clinical activity in each residency year:
    • average of 48 weeks in the first 3 years (total of 144 weeks)
    • average of 48 weeks in the last 2 years (total of 96 weeks)
    • other 4 weeks in each residency year can be used for vacation
  • Role of chief resident in general surgery for a minimum of 48 weeks (over PGY4-5). Chief rotations in PGY4 year require prior approval.


American Board of Surgery: General Surgery Family Leave Policy

Definition of Family Leave: care for a new child, whether for the birth, the adoption, or placement of a child in foster care; to care for a seriously ill family member (partner, child, or parent); to grieve the loss of a family member (partner, child, or parent); or to recover from the resident's own serious illness.

  • Documented Family Leave:
    • Additional 4 weeks off during the first three years (total of 140 weeks)
    • Additional 4 weeks off during the last two years (total of 92 weeks)
    • Still required to have minimum of 48 weeks of Chief Resident rotations
  • Additional Leave Options:
    • Averaging: 48 weeks can be averaged over the first 3 years and over the last 2 years (non-clinical time can be reduced in one year to allow for additional non-clinical time in another year).
    • Extending Chief Year through the end of August (needs advance approval)
    • Completing 5 years in 6:
    • - Needs advance approval from the ABS
    • - Resident may take up to additional 12 months off during six-year training period

Examples of Family Leave during different periods of time in training:

  • PGY1-3 years:
    • Documented family leave for total of 8 weeks (total 140 weeks of training needed over the first three years)
    • Additional 4 weeks can be taken off, but training may need to be extended into 4 weeks of research years
  • Research years: no changes in training time is needed
  • PGY4-5:
    • Documented family leave for total of 8 weeks (total of 92 weeks of training needed over the last two years)
    • Additional 4 weeks can be taken but training may need to be extended to August of the chief year
    • If family leave occurs in chief year, option of applying for PGY4 chief resident months to count towards the 48 weeks required in chief resident year.


American Board of Surgery: Vascular Surgery Family Leave Policy

Requirements: 48 weeks of full-time clinical activity per year

Documented Family Leave:

  • For integrated programs (0+5), a total of 140 weeks in the first three years and 92 weeks in the last two years.
  • For independent programs (5+2), a total of 92 weeks in the two years of vascular surgery training
  • see ABS General Surgery Leave Policy for additional leave options (averaging, extending to August, and completing 5 years in 6)


American Board of Surgery: Pediatric Surgery Family Leave Policy

Requirement for Certification: 96 weeks of full clinical activity over 2 years of training

  • Documented Leave: 92 weeks of full clinical activity over 2 years of training (additional four weeks beyond the 8 weeks of vacation)


American Board of Surgery: Plastic Surgery Personal Leave Policy

Optional 12 weeks of Personal Leave (maternity leave, paternity leave, medical leave, foster care, adoption, family leave or elective rotations (both international and domestic))

  • Not required to take in single block
  • No more than 4 weeks of Personal Leave can be taken during the last 3 months of plastic surgery residency training
  • Personal leave is in addition to the 4 non-clinical weeks (travel, vacation)
  • Personal leave will count towards the 48 clinical weeks required per year

 

American Board of Thoracic Surgery Leave of Absence Policy

Definition of Leave of Absence: parental leave (care of a child by birth, adoption or foster care), caregiver leave (care of an immediate family member including child, spouse, or parent with a serious health condition), or medical leave (for a trainee’s own serious health condition)

Pathway One, Two and Four candidates: 2- or 3-year Thoracic fellowship programs or the 3-year component of 4/3 General Surgery/Thoracic Surgery Joint Training Programs

  • Single 6 week leave of absence
  • If the leave occurs in the last 12 months of training, the individual will need to demonstrate that 12 of the last 18 months were at a senior-level responsibility

Pathway Three candidates: I-6 Integrated Thoracic Surgery residency

  • Two - 6 week leave of absences
  • The first leave can be used during PGY 1-3 and the second leave can be used during PGY 4-6.
  • If the leave occurs in the last 12 months of training, the individual will need to demonstrate that 12 of the last 18 months were at a senior-level responsibility.

Refer to “UCSF Surgery Parental Leave Resource” for further details about family leave paperwork

Training Program

Definition of Leave

Requirement with Documented Leave

General Surgery (ABS)

Family Leave: care for a new child, whether for the birth, the adoption, or placement of a child in foster care; to care for a seriously ill family member (partner, child, or parent); to grieve the loss of a family member (partner, child, or parent); or to recover from the resident's own serious illness.

-Additional 4 weeks off during the first three years (total of 140 weeks)

-Additional 4 weeks off during the last two years (total of 92 weeks)

-Still required to have minimum of 48 weeks of Chief Resident rotations
Additional Leave Options:

-Averaging: 48 weeks can be averaged over the first 3 years and over the last 2 years.

-Extending Chief Year through the end of August

-Completing 5 years in 6

Vascular Surgery (ABS)

Same as GS

-For integrated programs (0+5), a total of 140 weeks in the first three years and 92 weeks in the last two years.
-For independent programs (5+2), a total of 92 weeks in the two years of vascular surgery training

see ABS General Surgery Leave Policy for additional leave options

Pediatric Surgery (ABS)

Same as GS

92 weeks of full clinical activity over 2 years of training (additional fours weeks beyond the 8 weeks of vacation)

Cardiothoracic Surgery (ABTS)

Leave of Absence:parental leave (care of a child by birth, adoption or foster care), caregiver leave (care of an immediate family member including child, spouse, or parent with a serious health condition), or medical leave (for a trainee’s own serious health condition)

2- or 3-year Thoracic fellowship programs or the 3-year component of 4/3 General Surgery/Thoracic Surgery Joint Training Programs

-Single 6 week leave of absence

I-6 Integrated Thoracic Surgery residency

-Two - 6 week leave of absences

If leave occurs in last 12 months of training, the individual will need to demonstrate that 12 of the last 18 months were at a senior-level responsibility

Plastic Surgery (ABPS)

Personal Leave: maternity leave, paternity leave, medical leave, foster care, adoption, family leave or elective rotations (both international and domestic)

Optional 12 weeks of Personal Leave:

-Not required to take in single block

-No more than 4 weeks of Personal Leave can be taken during the last 3 months of plastic surgery residency training

-Personal leave is in addition to the 4 non-clinical weeks (travel, vacation)

-Personal leave will count towards the 48 clinical weeks required per year

Non-ACGME 2-year fellowships (ie Transplant, Trauma/Critical Care)

Same as GS

92 weeks of full clinical activity over 2 years of training (additional four weeks beyond the 8 weeks of vacation)

Non-ACGME 1-year fellowships (ie MIS, Breast, Endocrine)

Same as GS

46 weeks of full clinical activity over one year of training (additional 2 weeks beyond the 4 weeks of vacation)

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