Journal Review in Surgical Education: What We Can Learn From America’s Literacy Crisis
Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast
Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast
4.8 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 25 May 2026
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, hosts Drs. Maya Hunt, Nicole Santucci, Bryanna Stukes and Zoe Zhou explore the parallels between the literacy crisis in America and current challenges in surgical education, drawing insights from the podcast "Sold a Story." They discuss how both systems advance learners without true competency, blame struggling students rather than examining flawed teaching methods, and look to the promise of competency-based education as a path forward. Beyond surgical training, they examine how declining literacy rates will directly impact how we communicate with and care for our future patients.
Episode Hosts:
–Dr. Maya Hunt, Indiana University
mayahunt@iu.edu
snicole@wustl.edu
bryanna.stukes@UTSouthwestern.edu
zhoun1@mskcc.org
References:
1. Sold A Story: How teaching kids to read went so wrong | podcast. Accessed February 22, 2026. https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/.
2. 2024-2025 Literacy Statistics. National Literacy Institute. Accessed February 22, 2026. https://www.thenationalliteracyinstitute.com/2024-2025-literacy-statistics.
3. Purdy AC, Smith BR, Amersi F, et al. Characteristics Associated With Outstanding General Surgery Residency Graduate Performance, as Rated by Surgical Educators. JAMA Surg. 2022;157(10):918-924. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2022.3340 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35947371/
4. Santosa KB, Lussiez A, Bellomo TR, et al. Identifying Strategies for Struggling Surgery Residents. J Surg Res. 2022;273:147-154. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2021.12.026 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35085942/
5. Mattar SG, Alseidi AA, Jones DB, et al. General surgery residency inadequately prepares trainees for fellowship: results of a survey of fellowship program directors. Ann Surg. 2013;258(3):440-449. doi:10.1097/SLA.0b013e3182a191ca https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24022436/
6. George BC, Bohnen JD, Williams RG, et al. Readiness of US General Surgery Residents for Independent Practice. Ann Surg. 2017;266(4):582-594. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000002414 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28742711/
7. Brasel KJ, Lindeman B, Jones A, et al. Implementation of Entrustable Professional Activities in General Surgery: Results of a National Pilot Study. Ann Surg. 2023;278(4):578-586. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000005991 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37436883/
Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.
If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listen
Behind the Knife Premium: https://behindtheknife.org/premium
Oral Board Review: https://behindtheknife.org/oral-board
Oral Board Simulator: https://behindtheknife.org/oral-board/simulator
General Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/general-surgery-oral-board-review
Trauma Surgery Video Atlas: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/trauma-surgery-video-atlas
Dominate Surgery: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Clerkship: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-clerkship
Dominate Surgery for APPs: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Rotation: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-for-apps-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-rotation
Vascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/vascular-surgery-oral-board-review
Colorectal Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/colorectal-surgery-oral-board-review
Surgical Oncology Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/surgical-oncology-oral-board-review
Cardiothoracic Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/cardiothoracic-surgery-oral-board-review
Download our App:
Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049
Android/Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app&hl=en_US
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Behind the Night, The Surgery Podcast, Relevant and Engaging Content to help you dominate the day. We are proud to announce a |
| 0:32.7 | We are proud to announce a comprehensive update to our general Surgery Oral Board review content, covering all of the latest score curriculum. |
| 0:42.8 | We now have 123 up-to-date audio scenarios, all with expert commentary, 10 interactive video scenarios to test your knowledge, and 97 comprehensive operative descriptions that will have you smooth talking your |
| 0:56.8 | way through the exam. It's all accessible via our top-notch iOS and Android apps, and all for |
| 1:02.7 | hundreds of dollars less than other review courses. It's the best content at maximum value. |
| 1:09.1 | Learn more behind the knife.org. We hope you enjoy this scenario. |
| 1:13.0 | Dominate the boards. |
| 1:15.0 | Hey, quick question. What does a third grader struggling to read have in common with the chief |
| 1:19.5 | surgical resident struggling in the OR? Um, they both throw temper tantrums. Close guess, but not |
| 1:26.8 | quite. Keep listening to find out. Hello everyone and |
| 1:30.1 | welcome to another Behind the Knife episode brought to you by the collaboration surgical education |
| 1:34.8 | fellows, also known as Kosef. I'm Maya Hunt, Kosef's Behind the Knife lead for this year and I'm a |
| 1:40.0 | general surgery resident at Indiana University where I'm finishing up as a surgical education |
| 1:44.5 | research fellow while getting my master's in health professions education through the University |
| 1:48.3 | of Illinois, Chicago. |
| 1:49.3 | I hope you enjoyed our last episode on Power and Leadership. |
| 1:52.6 | Today, I'm excited to be joined by three co-hosts from Kosef, Nicole Santucci, Brianna Stukes, |
| 1:58.0 | and Zoe Jo. |
| 1:59.0 | Nicole, do you want to introduce yourself and explain what Kosef actually is? |
| 2:03.3 | Yeah, I'd love to. Hi, everyone. I'm Nicole Santucci, a general surgery resident at Washu and St. Louis, |
| 2:08.7 | currently in my second year of professional development time. I also taught middle school science before |
| 2:13.5 | going to medical school. So literacy, both in the classroom and the hospital, is something I |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 15 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.