Requirements

Specific requirements

• A minimum of five years of progressive residency education.
• All phases of graduate education in general surgery in an accredited general surgery program.
• Sixty months of residency training at no more than three residency programs.
• No fewer than 48 weeks of full-time clinical activity in each residency year.
• At least 54 months of clinical surgical experience with progressively increasing levels of responsibility with no fewer than 42 months devoted to the content areas of general surgery.
• Successful completion of advanced cardiovascular life support, advanced trauma life support, fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery and fundamentals of endoscopic surgery.
• No more than six months during all junior years assigned to non-clinical or non-surgical disciplines.
• The entire chief resident experience in either the content areas of general surgery, as defined in section I-D, or thoracic surgery.
• Acting in the capacity of chief resident in general surgery for a 12-month period.
• The final two years of residency years in the same program.
• At least six operative and six clinical performance assessments.

Operative Experience

• Minimum of 850 operative procedures in five years.
• At least 200 operative procedures in the chief resident year.
• A minimum of 40 cases required in the area of surgical critical care patient management.
• Residents may count up to 50 cases as teaching assistant toward the 850 operative case total; however these cases may not count toward the 200 chief year cases. 
• At least 25 cases as a teaching assistant.

Requirements by Year

First Year

• Acquire knowledge of basic surgical principles, including ethics, metabolism, hematology, shock, fluid and electrolytes, wound healing, trauma, transplantation, infections and inflammation, and 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.
• Advanced cardiovascular life support and advanced trauma life support courses.
• Fundamentals of surgery.
• Canvas competency curriculum.
• Verification of competency curriculum.
• Operative skills labs (including open skills, minimally invasive skills and simulation skills).
• Participation in general surgical services and specialty services.
• Perform 100 simple surgical procedures.

Second 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.
• Display professional competencies .

These objectives are accomplished via:

• Conferences and assigned reading.
• Successful completion Part 3 USMLE.
• Operative skills lab (including open skills, minimally invasive skills and simulation skills).
• Participation in surgical services, including trauma/critical care.
• Perform 250 surgical procedures.

Third 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.
• Expand knowledge of organ specific diseases, particularly in pediatric surgery, cardiothoracic surgery and transplant.
• Assume responsibility for care of critically ill patients.
• Become proficient in endoscopic procedures.
• Display professional competencies.

These objectives are accomplished via:

• Conferences and assigned reading.
• Operative skills lab (including open skills, minimally invasive skills and simulation skills).
• Endoscopy and rural rotation.
• Role as senior resident on assigned services.
• Rotation in pediatric surgery, trauma/critical care and transplant.
• Perform 200 surgical procedures.

Fourth 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.
• Display professional competencies                   .

 These objectives are accomplished via:

• Conferences and assigned reading.
• Operative skills lab (including open skills, minimally invasive skills and simulation skills).
• Colorectal rotation with endoscopy experience.
• Senior resident on general surgical service at private hospital.
• Senior resident in trauma/critical care service.
• Perform 200-250 surgical procedures.
• Participate in mock oral exam.

Fifth Year

• Strong comprehension of surgical principles.
• Extensive knowledge of organ specific disease and management.
• Proficient at performing general surgical procedures and meets all volume requirements.
• Function independently in patient management and during procedures.
• Function as leader of surgical team, including education components.
• Has leadership role in residency program.
• Display professional competencies.

 These objectives are accomplished via:

• Conferences and assigned reading.
• Administrative responsibilities.
• Completion of scholarly project.
• Operative skills lab (including open skills, minimally invasive skills and simulation skills).
• Successful completion of fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery.
• Participate in mock oral exam.
• Participate in mock written exam every quarter.
• Chief resident on general surgical services.
• Performs 200-250 surgical procedures.
• Meets all applicable ACGME operative experience requirements.