Program Curriculum

Program Educational Goals and Objectives

The goal of the surgical residency program is to prepare the resident to function as a qualified practitioner of surgery at the advanced level of performance expected of a board-certified specialist. The education encompasses both didactic instruction in the basic and clinical sciences of surgical diseases and conditions, as well as education in procedureal skills and operative techniques. The educational process will lead to the acquisition of an apropriate fund of knowledge and technical skills, the ability to integrate the acquired knowledge into the clinical situation, and the development of surgical judgment. The length of the resudency program is five clinical years and admission prerequisites are as outlined in the institutional Requirements

Pogram Objectives (View PGY-level rotation goals and objectives)

The ABS considers general surgery to be a discipline encompassing the following content areas:

• Alimentary Tract
• Abdomen and its Contents
• Breast, Skin and Soft Tissue
• Endocrine System
• Head and Neck Surgery
• Organ Transplantation
• Pediatric Surgery
• Surgical Critical Care
• Surgical Oncology
• Trauma/Burns and Acute Care Surgery
• Vascular Surgery

The expected knowledge and performance of the certified surgeon is as follows

• Comprehensive clinical knowledge within each area listed, to include epidemiology, anatomy, physiology, clinical presentation, and parthology (including neoplasia)
• Knowledge of the scientific foundations in all areas, including wound healing; infection; fluid management; shock and resuscitation; immunology; antibiotic usage; metabolism; and use of enteral and parenteral nutrition
• Experience and skill in the clinical evaluation, appropriate use of radiologic imaging, and management of diseases within these areas, including diagnosis; indications for surgery and non-surgical treatment; peroperative, operative and postoperative care; and the management of comorbidities and complications.
• Extensive experience in minimally invasive surgery for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in these areas, including basic and advanced laparoscopic procedures.
• Substantial experience in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, including colonoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy and bronchoscopy

The following specialty areas are independent of general surgery; however the certified general surgeon is expected to be familiar with their common diseases and operative techniques.

• Thoracic Surgery
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery
• Urgent and emergent problems in gynecologic, neurologic, orthopedic, and urologic surgery

The certified general surgeon is also expected to have knowledge of and experience in the following specific areas:

• Resuscitation of critically ill patients, including trauma victims
• Airway intubation, both urgent and elective
• Conscious sedation
• Diagnostic ultrasonography, particularly of the following areas; thyroid and parathyroid, breast, abdomen including intraoperative and laparoscopic ultrasonography, endorectal, trauma including Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST)
• Non-invaseive diagnostic evaluation of the vascular system
• Sentinel lymph node mapping for breast cancer and melanoma

The certified general surgeon is also expected to have knowledge and skills in the management and team-based interdisciplinary care of the following specific patient groups

• Terminally ill patients, to include palliative care and management of pain, weight loss, and cachexia in patients with malignant and chronic conditions
• Morbidly obese patients, to include metabolic derangements, weight-loss surgery and the counseling of patients and families
• Geriatric surgical patients, to include operative and nonoperative care, management of co-morbid chronic diseases, and the counseling of patients and families

1st Year 

• Acquire knowledge of basic surgical principles, including ethics, metabolism, hematology, shock, fluid and electrolytes, wound healing, trauma, transplanation, infections and inflammation, anesthesiology
• Learn basic care of the surgical patient: preoperative evaluation, preparation for operation, conduct of operation and postoperative management
• Learn basic surgical techniques: use of instruments, tissue handling, sterile field, laparoscopy
• Perform simple surgical procedures under supervision; serve as surgical assistant
• Develop approach to evaluation of surgical and related conditions in the outpatient (clinic and emergency department) and inpatient setting (consults)
• Understand and begin to model professional competencies

 These objectives are accomplished via

• Conferences and assigned reading
• ACLS and ATLS courses
• Fundamentals of Surgery
• Blackboard competency curriculum
• Operative skills labs
• Participation in general surgical services and speciality services including emergency department and anesthesia
• Perform 50 simple surgical procedures

2nd Year

• Expand knowledge of basic surgical principles
• Perform appropriate surgical procedures under direct supervision
• Become more independent in the management of the surgical patient
• Increase participation in decision making
• Learn advanced surgical techniques
• Understand care of critically ill patients, including trauma/burn
• Acquire knowledge of organ specific diseases and their management
• Displays professional competencies

These objectives are accomplished via

• Conferences and assigned reading
• Successful completion Part 3 USMLE
• Operative skills lab
• Participation in surgical services, including trauma/critical care
• Perform 100 surgical procedures

3rd Year

• Expand knowledge of basic principles; can teach students and less experienced residents
• Perform more advanced surgical procedures with direct supervision
• Function independently in patient management
• Assume leadership responsibility on surgical service
• Be proficient in performing surgical procedures, e.g. line placement
• Expland knowledge of organ specific diseases, particiularly in pediatric surgery, cardiothoracic surgery and transplant surgery
• Assume responsibility for care of critically ill patients
• Become proficient in endoscopic procedures
• Displays professional competencies

These objectives are accomplished via

• Conferences and assigned reading
• Operative skills lab
• Endoscopy rotation
• Role as senior resident on assigned services
• Rotation in pediatric surgery, trauma/critical care, transplantaion, cardiac surgery
• Perform 150 surgical procedures

4th Year

• Expand knowledge of surgical procedures
• Expand knowledge of organ specific disease and management
• Become proficient at performing common general surgical procedures with supervision
• Gain experience in private practice setting
• Become proficient at overall care of trauma/critical care patients
• Develop advanced minimally invasive surgical skills
• Function independently in patient management
• Assume leadership role in residency program
• Become experienced educator of students and residents
• Displays professional competenceis

These objectives are accomplished via

• Conferences and assigned reading
• Operative skills lab
• Senior resident on general surgical service at private hospital
• Senior resident in trauma/critical care service
• perform 200 surgical procedures

5th Year

• Knows surgical principles
• Extensive knowledge of organ specific disease and management
• Proficient at performing general surgical procedures and meets all volume requirements
• Can function independently in patient management and during procedures
• Functions as leader of surgical team, including education components
• Has leadership role in residency program
• Displays professional competencies

These objectives are accomplished via

• Conferences and assigned reading
• Administrative responsibilities
• Completion of scholarly project
• Operative skills lab
• Successful completion of Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery
• Chief resident on general surgical services
• Performs 250 surgical procedures
• Meets all applicable ACGME operative experience requirements