Residency training emerges as both evolving and strained, with Dr. George Dyer highlighting shifting expectations, rising administrative burdens, and the challenge of separating true educational value from routine “work work.” He emphasizes that today’s residents remain as capable and driven as prior generations but are overwhelmed by tasks that dilute learning. Dyer argues for clearer boundaries between service and education, careful integration of simulation without replacing mentorship, and sustained faculty engagement. His reflections underscore that strong training depends on passion for teaching, thoughtful system redesign, and preserving the human connection at the heart of surgical education.