Surgery Education - General Surgery Residency Program
Message from the Program Director
The primary goal of our residency program is to produce outstanding general
surgeons who can perform at the highest level as both clinicians and
academicians. Graduates of our program are compassionate physicians with
outstanding technical skills and excellent clinical judgment. They are prepared
for highly rewarding careers as broadly-trained general surgeons. Upon
graduation, the majority of our residents pursue fellowship training in high
caliber subspecialty training programs. Those residents who do not desire
additional training are highly successful in the private practice community. Our
graduates have taken positions in a great variety of locations throughout the
United States. Our teaching faculty comes from diverse backgrounds providing our
residents many opportunities to learn a variety of approaches to clinical
problems.
At the University of Texas Health Science Center we believe that the surgical residents are the lifeblood of any great Department of Surgery. We strive to continually challenge our residents while supporting them at the same time. This is accomplished by having all levels of faculty work side-by-side with the residents on all services. For example, on our trauma surgery service residents take call with a mix of senior faculty (including the editor of a major surgical journal and the Department Chairman) and full time trauma faculty (including the Residency Director).
In addition to learning clinical surgery, the majority of our categorical residents entering the program since 2005 are expected to spend at last one additional year doing clinical and/or basic science research between the clinical PG2 and PG3 years. During the research year(s) the department sponsors and pays tuition for the research resident to complete a Masters of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) in our NIH sponsored program. This research experience can set the stage for a productive academic career, propel the resident to a top fellowship or simply allow the young surgeon an opportunity to learn what really goes into research so that he/she may evaluate medical literature more critically. Regardless of a surgeon's ultimate career path, we believe that time spent in research should complement the clinical training and make one a better surgeon over the long term.
We have designed our curriculum to prepare our trainees for life after residency. The curriculum includes:
- A basic science course for PG1, 2, 3, and 5 residents.
- Discussions over the material found in Selected Readings in General Surgery for PG4 residents.
- A Resident Teaching Skills course for PG1 residents.
- A Leadership Development course for PG4 residents.
- A Business course for PG5 residents.
- Monthly mock oral exam preparation sessions where a limited number of topics are distributed prior to the event and the PG3, 4, and 5 residents are expected to have prepared for the topics on any given day.
- A clinical Management topics course for PG3, 4, and 5 residents.
- A dedicated skills development rotation in which PG1 residents complete have dedicated time to learn and enhance technical skills.
In short, we are committed to attracting outstanding students and providing them with excellent training so that they are prepared to meet their goals, whether in academia or in private practice. We welcome applications from any qualified individual who feels he/she is up to the challenge.
Daniel L. Dent, MD
Program Director
General Surgery Residency Program
. . . .
