| Summary: | One of the constants in the life of any young surgeon is the knowledge that a standardized exam will be an expected exercise both during and after one’s training in general surgery. As discussions continue regarding the best way to measure technical and professional competence, methods of testing will continue to take on new and more modern formats. It is obvious, however, that the knowledge base will continue to be a prime factor and that the volume of knowledge will continue to explode. As we launched the development of a guide to facilitate the testing phase of surgical knowledge, the prime factor was to distill a large amount of information into a useable format and to provide the reader and future test taker with questions that would help during the study phase. As editors, we have had a number of years of training as well as participation in the training of others. We, therefore, appreciate the nuances and the types of material that are important, not only to answer test questions effectively, but also to have in our knowledge base in order to provide good clinical care. Review of Surgery will help prepare residents for the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination, a major milestone in beginning a career in surgery. Apart from challenging the individual resident taking the exam, ABSITE also challenges each surgery program to provide the best possible grounding in the basic science of surgery. This exam helps to determine areas of basic science strength and weakness for both individuals and institutions. As such, the results of this exam can be farreaching. While designed specifically for the ABSITE, Review of Surgery also allows residents, interns, medical students and even physicians studying for recertification exams the opportunity to brush up on the underlying science they all need to know.
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