Education Resources

Residents may initiate an EPA assessment following direct observation by faculty during any preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative clinical activity. These assessments are brief and user-friendly, supporting frequent, real-time documentation of clinical performance. EPA data are used to deliver individualized feedback, inform Clinical Competency Committee (CCC) discussions, and guide entrustment decisions throughout residency training. 

For more information about General Surgery EPAs, visit the American Board of Surgery website. 

How to use EPAs to take charge of your surgical training 
 

Moral Oral Examination 

To help residents prepare for the American Board of Surgery (ABS) Certifying Exam (CE), we conduct an annual Multi-Institutional General Surgery Mock Oral Examination (MOE). Participation is required for all residents in their R3 through R5 clinical years. The MOE takes place remotely via Zoom on a Wednesday in May during protected education time. We collaborate with six partner programs—Cedars-Sinai, USC, Kaiser Permanente, Community Memorial, Santa Barbara Cottage, and Tripler Army Medical Center—bringing together over 70 faculty examiners and nearly 70 senior residents. The exam simulates the ABS CE as closely as possible while minimizing bias. Each resident completes three 30-minute sessions using twelve standardized cases, evaluated by faculty from outside their home institution. Cases are developed and reviewed by subject matter experts, aligned with the SCORE curriculum, and rotated over a three-year cycle to prevent repetition. After the exam, residents receive detailed score reports with performance breakdowns, examiner comments, and feedback on communication skills. The MOE is strictly formative and is not used for CCC deliberations, formal evaluations, or promotion decisions.