Robert T. Russell, M.D., MPH
, professor in the UAB Department of Surgery and director of the Trauma Program at Children's of Alabama, has been selected by the American Board of Surgery (ABS) to join a newly-formed case writing group for the General Surgery Certifying Examination.
The ABS established the 12-member group to develop original exam content that expands the breadth of current material to reflect the clinical experiences of today's practicing surgeons. Russell was selected for his experience as an examiner on the General Surgery Certifying Exam committee and his broad surgical expertise. In this role, he will develop new cases and review submissions from peers.
Russell is part of the editorial boards for the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery and the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, a guest editor of the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and a member of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, Southern Surgical Association, and the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Faculty Council. He has published more than 120 peer-reviewed manuscripts, with research focused on pediatric traumatic hemorrhagic shock and surgical quality improvement.
"Being part of this effort to shape the certifying exam is a privilege," Russell said. "The test content we’re developing is the last checkpoint before a surgeon practices independently, so the material we write should reflect what they'll actually face when they're taking care of patients. As surgery evolves, the exam will need to evolve with the field, and this is a natural step in that progression.”
Russell joined the UAB Division of Pediatric Surgery in 2012 as an assistant professor after completing his surgical residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a pediatric surgery fellowship at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University. In February 2013, he was appointed director of Pediatric Trauma at Children’s of Alabama. He additionally serves in numerous capacities for Children’s of Alabama, including surgeon champion for the Pediatric Surgery Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP-P), physician champion for the Surgical Site Infection Improvement Collaborative, and is a member of the Quality Improvement Council.
About the General Surgery Certifying Examination
The General Surgery Certifying Examination is the final step toward board certification in general surgery. It is a virtual oral exam consisting of three consecutive 30-minute sessions, during which teams of examiners evaluate candidates' clinical judgment, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.