Workforce shortages are ubiquitous and require the recruitment of general surgeons to remote rural communities to provide care close to home to our nation’s most severely underserved patients. Enticement to work in these communities can be challenging, resources can be limited, and often these surgeons function in solo or small practices without clearly defined mentorship and support networks. The panel will convene a variety of rural surgeons to discuss the early-career obstacles they have encountered and best practices they have employed to find mentorship and support to ensure a successful transition to and durable practice. This will include discussion of the current ACS/Advisory Council for Rural Surgery efforts to establish regional mentorship networking for ACS Fellows working in rural areas.
