Maura E. Sullivan, PhD

Professor of Clinical Surgery (Educational Scholar)

Vice Chair of Education

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Overview

Dr. Maura Sullivan is a Professor of Clinical Surgery (Educational Scholar) at the University of Southern California. She is the Associate Dean for Simulation Education in the Keck School of Medicine, The Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Surgery and the Executive Director for the Surgical Simulation and Education Center. She has a joint appointment in the Rossier School of Education where she is a Professor and a Senior Research Associate. Her research and academic interests include Cognitive-Task-Analysis, the development of expertise, technical skills training, faculty development and curriculum development.

Dr. Sullivan obtained her undergraduate degree in nursing from Fairfield University, her Master of Science in nursing/critical care from the University of California, San Francisco, and her PhD in Educational Psychology from the Rossier School of Education at USC. She is actively involved in the Association of Surgical Education and is the Director of the Surgical Education Research Fellowship, a member of the Board of Directors and a member of the grants review committee, Center for Excellence in Surgical Education, Research and Training (CESERT). She holds an appointment with the American College of Surgeons as an ATLS Educator, is the Co-Editor-In Chief for the Resources in Surgical Education peer review online journal, is a member of the leadership team for the development of an online assessment tool to measure readiness on incoming PGY 1 residents to assume clinical duties and is the Course Director for the Surgeons As Educators Course. In addition, she is a faculty member for the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology (APGO) Academic Scholars and Leaders Program.

Publications

  • Targeted Needs Assessment for Developing a Robotic Surgery Training Curriculum for Acute Care Surgery Fellows: A Mixed-Methods Analysis. J Am Coll Surg. 2026 Sep 01; 243(3):538-548.. View in PubMed
  • Perceptions of General Surgery Program Leadership and Residents on Research Sabbatical. J Surg Res. 2023 09; 289:152-157.. View in PubMed
  • Evaluating General Surgical Residency Education Structure and Incorporation of the Resident as Educator Model. J Surg Educ. 2022 Nov-Dec; 79(6):1387-1393.. View in PubMed
  • Resident Readiness for Senior Level Decision Making: Identifying the Domains for Formative Assessment and Feedback. J Surg Educ. 2022 Sep-Oct; 79(5):1124-1131.. View in PubMed
  • The Biology and Psychology of Surgical Learning. Surg Clin North Am. 2021 Aug; 101(4):541-554.. View in PubMed
  • Selecting the Next Generation of Surgeons: General Surgery Program Directors and Coordinators Perspective on USMLE Changes and Holistic Approach. World J Surg. 2021 11; 45(11):3258-3265.. View in PubMed
  • A Nationwide Survey Study on Medical Student Experience in Acute Care Surgery. J Surg Res. 2021 05; 261:146-151.. View in PubMed
  • Effect of COVID-19 on Surgical Training Across the United States: A National Survey of General Surgery Residents. J Surg Educ. 2021 Mar-Apr; 78(2):431-439.. View in PubMed
  • The American College of Surgeons Entering Resident Readiness Assessment Program: Development and National Pilot Testing Results. Ann Surg. 2020 07; 272(1):194-198.. View in PubMed
  • Educational benefits of an acute care surgery rotation during the medical student surgical clerkship. Am J Surg. 2020 10; 220(4):858-860.. View in PubMed