Quality improvement (QI) is an essential knowledge base and valuable skill for frontline providers and leaders in surgery to improve care and optimize patient outcomes. Acquisition of QI skills and methodology have not traditionally been reliably incorporated into surgical training or ongoing professional development – though there have been advanced in this in recent years.

This textbook represents an opportunity to acquire and learn these skills as part of an academic career. Successful acquisition and implementation of quality improvement skills has provided additional benefits for professional career development – leading to local and system leadership, academic productivity, meaningful improvement in patient outcomes and physician engagement, and development of management skills. Understanding quality improvement methodology, interdisciplinary team development, coordination and systemization of quality in surgery includes the translation of research and process improvement into clinical practice and it requires dedicated time, training and resources. QI alignment with academic progress, research, innovation and knowledge management is essential and should be an integral part of career development for academic surgeons. Quality improvement also provides a platform to rediscover optimism, engender a sense of ownership and reduce burnout in surgical patient care.