IL4 The evolution of a revolution

Abstract

T here is much in common between ancient Greeks and modern surgeons. The word sur-gery is derived from the Greek word cheirourgos, meaning " working by hand. " Ancient Greeks invented the marathon, based on the long run of Phidipedes to announce the progress of the Battle of Marathon. Modern surgeons invented the marathon residency training pro-gram. Like ancient Greeks, modern surgeons are under siege themselves, a revolution over residency lifestyle, or more specifically, over work hours. This article is the Phidipedes of surgery, announcing the evolution of this battle over resident work hours. To fully comprehend this revolution, the history of surgical resident training from Halsted to the events of the Libby Zion case, which resulted in the 405 regulations in New York, will be reviewed. The influences that have led to further changes will also be examined. Finally, the task of training residents with reduced work hours, implications of the changes, and thoughts for the future will be discussed.