The General Surgery Residency program aims to provide an innovative training experience for the future leaders in surgery by focusing on the following areas of focus:
- Developing outstanding technical skills and mature clinical judgment by combining simulation training, broad operative exposure, formative feedback, and a deliberate focus on the development of autonomy.
- Provide the opportunity, training, and mentorship to launch an academic career grounded in effective collaborations and substantive research contributions.
- Develop residents as highly-professional leaders of health care teams and other organizations.
- Use preparation, opportunity, and feedback to develop outstanding educators of all learners (including peers, patients, and self) over the arc of their career.
- Promote a culture of constant quality improvement for health care systems.
- Encourage work/life balance, personal insight, and wellness to sustain a career in surgery characterized by genuine compassion and service to patients.
- Support all individuals to reach their highest potential within an inclusive and collaborative community.
Clinical Rotations & Objectives
PGY-1
Goals & Objectives
The first year of residency training consists of core general surgery rotations designed to provide a broad introduction to general surgery operations, as well as the pre-operative, post-operative, outpatient, and intensive care of surgical patients. First-year residents:
- Take an active part in patient evaluation and management appropriate for their level.
- Actively participate in operative procedures, both as first assistant and as surgeon (junior role).
- Take on a prominent role in the delivery of post-operative care.
- Progress through a period of being supervised directly by senior residents and attending surgeons, to being supervised indirectly.
- Complete a rigorous, structured, and detailed curriculum for the development of surgical skills in the U-M Clinical Simulation Center.
One-Month Rotations
- General & Vascular Surgery at Ann Arbor Veteran’s Administration Hospital (1 month)
- Thoracic Surgery at Ann Arbor Veteran’s Administration Hospital (1 month)
- Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Burn Intensive Care Unit at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Endocrine Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Colorectal Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Pediatric Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Plastic Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Vascular Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Transplant Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery & Surgical Oncology at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
PGY-2
Goals & Objectives
In your second year, you’ll gain more opportunities for graduated responsibility, both in the operating room and in clinical management. Second-year residents:
- Function more autonomously by seeing consults on the emergency general surgery service, and function as the emergency consult resident on trauma, assisting senior residents in the care of patients during trauma resuscitations.
- Assist with the supervision and education of junior residents and collaborate with the critical care fellow during rotations in the surgical intensive care unit.
Rotations
- General & Vascular Surgery at Ann Arbor Veteran’s Administration Hospital (1 month)
- Acute Care Surgery Emergency Consult at University of Michigan Hospitals (2 months)
- Endocrine Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (2 months)
- Colorectal Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (2 months)
- Minimally Invasive Surgery at Chelsea Hospital and Brighton Center for Specialty Care (1 month)
- Pediatric Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery & Surgical Oncology at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Float at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
Float covers junior resident vacations on relevant services.
PGY-3
Goals & Objectives
In your third year, you’ll function as the second senior resident on most rotations. Opportunities for independent responsibility increase substantially. Third-year residents:
- Function as the primary consult resident on most services, and staff consults with the chief resident or directly with the attending.
- Share the responsibility of running the service with the chief resident on days off or over vacations.
- Take on operative cases of increased complexity. Operative volume increases significantly.
Rotations
- Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (3 months)
- Cardiac Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Vascular Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Burn Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Transplant Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- General Thoracic Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Pediatric Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Float at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
Float covers senior resident vacation on relevant services
PGY-4
Goals & Objectives
Fourth-year residents are responsible for all aspects of clinical management of the service, as well as team leadership. Your responsibilities increase substantially both in the operating room and on the service. Fourth-year residents:
- Function as the chief of the Acute Care Surgery service (SA-2), leading and managing all areas of the trauma service independently. They also direct and supervise all care delivered during trauma resuscitations under the supervision of the trauma attendings.
- Gain a month of time for electives so they can pursue specific clinical interests.
Rotations
- Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, MI (1 month)
- General & Vascular Surgery at Ann Arbor Veteran’s Administration Hospital (1 month)
- Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (3 months)
- Endocrine Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (2 months)
- Colorectal Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (2 months)
- Surgical Oncology at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Elective (1 month)
- Float at University of Michigan Hospitals (2 months)
Float covers vacations on relevant service, PGY-4 in ACS call pool at University Hospital.
PGY-5
Goals & Objectives
Fifth-year residents act as chief on all services, leading the team in every aspect. Fifth-year residents:
- Direct every aspect of clinical care, including pre- and post-operative management, and staff patients with attendings on a daily basis.
- Fulfill all administrative responsibilities of the service to ensure the team functions smoothly by coordinating schedules to ensure all clinics and operating rooms are staffed, while guaranteeing that all ACGME and duty-hour restrictions are met.
- Coordinate and lead the clinical education of fellow residents and medical students on the team.
- Take the lead in the technical aspects of operations and direct operative decision-making under the direct supervision of attending surgeons, refining their surgical skills and judgment to prepare for a life of independent practice.
Rotations
- General Surgery at Ann Arbor Veteran’s Administration Hospital (2 months)
- Vascular Surgery at Ann Arbor Veteran’s Administration Hospital (1 month)
- Acute Care Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (2 months)
- Endocrine Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (2 months)
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (2 months)
- Colorectal Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- General Thoracic Surgery at University of Michigan Hospitals (1 month)
- Minimally Invasive Surgery at Chelsea Hospital and Brighton Center for Specialty Care (1 month)
Academic Development Time
Residents typically have 2 years of Academic Development Time (ADT) between the PGY-3 and PGY-4 clinical years of training. Your first three years of residency provide an opportunity to become familiar with the research being done in the department, develop relationships with primary investigators, and finalize a proposal for your own research.
