Health sciences pro-vice-chancellor Prof Peter Crampton said the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons was determined to change the culture of the profession.
He had been impressed by the college’s attitude towards tackling the abuses.
While it was not new, there was greater awareness of the sexual harassment, bullying, verbal abuse and exploitation of many junior surgeons.
"None of that is new, but it’s been newly highlighted."
Surgery was not the only specialty affected by unacceptable behaviour, but it had been slower to change than other specialties.
It was daunting for trainee surgeons to make a formal complaint, and this had led to the introduction of "soft feedback" processes, whereby people could raise concerns without fear of repercussions.
In a press release, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons said the letter of agreement was the first it had signed with a university. The aim of it was to build respect and improve patient safety.
"The collaboration between [the college] and the University of Otago medical school paves the way for a continuous focus on respect as a cornerstone of professionalism, from medical school to specialist surgical training," the statement said.
