Program description

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) General Surgery Residency Program is a categorical, non-pyramidal program approved by the ACGME for 9 categorical residents at each year of surgical training, 20 preliminary interns, and 4 preliminary PGY-2 residents. The program was last reviewed in 2010 by the Surgery Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and received full accreditation.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduating chief residents are qualified to practice the full spectrum of General Surgery and have adequate operative experience and knowledge to qualify for the certification examination by the American Board of Surgery (MD) or the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (DO). Residents achieve clinical proficiency through graduated responsibility commensurate with ability and level of training during 5 years of clinical experience.

Over the past 5 years, our graduates have consistently performed better than the national average on the American Board of Surgery's Qualifying and Certifying Examinations. Our 5-year pass rate for the Qualifying Exam is 88% (national average = 85%). Our 5-year pass rate for the Certifying Exam is 95% (national average = 83%). Our 5-year pass rate for passing both exams on the first attempt is 84% (national average = 73%).

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2011 as they became the third consecutive class of graduates (26 graduates in all) to have a 100% pass rate on the American Board of Surgery Qualifying (written) examination!

In addition to learning clinical surgery, our residents have the opportunity to spend additional years doing clinical and/or basic science research between the clinical PG2 and PG3 years. Most residents elect to do 2 years of research; however, some residents have chosen to complete only 1 or even 3 years of research. During these research years 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.