Causes of Death of Residents in ACGME-Accredited Programs 2000 Through 2014: Implications for the Learning Environment

Published in the Journal of the Association of Academic Medical Colleges, this study aims to systematically understand the number of U.S. resident deaths from all causes, including suicide. The authors found that the leading cause of death while in residency was neoplastic disease, followed by suicide, accidents, and other diseases. Deaths by suicide were higher early in training and during the first and third quarters of the academic year. Authors suggest that providing trainees with a supportive environment and with support services is integral to reducing preventable deaths and fostering a healthy workforce.