Jonathan D. D'Angelo, Ph.D., M.A.

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SUMMARY

Jonathan D. D'Angelo, Ph.D., M.A., is a social scientist who investigates methods to enhance surgical education and decision-making. His research uses qualitative and quantitative methods to better understand the experiences of expert surgeons in practice and to develop and test educational interventions for surgeons in training. He has contributed to the surgical education literature on topics such as:

• Burnout.
• Resident interview and selection processes.
• Trainee assessments.
• How surgeons might cope with errors.
• Cultivation of surgical wisdom.

In addition to actively conducting research, Dr. D'Angelo collaborates with surgical faculty mentors, residents and fellows in surgical education and related research.

Focus areas

• Coping with errors in the operating room. Dr. D'Angelo has conducted a series of investigations resulting in the publication and dissemination of the Stop, Talk to your team, Obtain help, Plan, Succeed (STOPS) framework for coping with intraoperative errors. This framework is now being taught in general surgery residency programs.
• Surgical decision making. Dr. D'Angelo is actively investigating how surgeons navigate complex decisions in the operating room. A focus is on the role of phronesis, which refers to practical knowledge.
• Inflection points. Though extensive interviews with surgeons, Dr. D'Angelo is investigating the impact of inflection points. He is studying these powerful learning moments that occur during surgical education to better identify and more efficiently use such moments for trainee education.

Significance to patient care

Dr. D'Angelo works to improve the speed at which surgeons in training become competent. Well-trained surgeons who have gained expertise can more carefully deliberate in times of uncertainty. Through this research, surgeons are better equipped to understand and meet the various needs of patients, respond to challenges in the operating room, and educate the next-generation surgical workforce.

Professional highlights

• University of Wisconsin-Madison:
  • Charles A. Pearce Award for research, Department of Communication Arts, 2012 and 2015.
  • Helen K. Herman Award for academic ability and extracurricular activities, Department of Communication Arts, 2013.
  • First Year McCarty Scholarship, Department of Communication Arts, 2011.
  • Chancellor's Fellowship, 2011.
• Top Paper Award, Health Communication Division, National Communication Association, 2014.
• Platform presentation (Top 5 abstract), media and technology theme, Pediatric Academic Societies, 2013.
• Top 4 paper, Instructional and Developmental Communication Division, International Communication Association, 2012.