Surgical Education

Division of Surgical Education

GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY TRAINING

Six residents are chosen each year for the General Surgery Residency Program. The program is a broadbased program and prepares residents for one of three tracks:

• Community practice as a general surgeon;
• An academic career with a research focus;
• Advanced fellowship training.

During the first two years, the resident will manage patients and gain preliminary operative experience through rotations in general surgery, trauma surgery, transplant surgery, the surgical intensive care unit, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery and urology. While on these services, the resident attends the teaching and work conferences of these specialty services.

A laboratory experience is offered on an optional basis for those residents interested in performing research under the guidance of an established investigator. The program will be flexible for residents to best meet their individual needs, both in selection and timing of a laboratory experience. Residents interested in a career in academic surgery may enroll in a Masters of Science program with both clinical and basic science mentors.

Third year clinical residents gain experience in burn care, critical care and gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Further experiences are gained on general surgery, pediatric surgery and vascular surgery services. Senior responsibility begins in the fourth clinical year with rotations on thoracic surgery, transplant surgery, trauma surgery. Independence increases as the resident's operative judgment and surgical capabilities increase.

In the final year, the Chief Resident matures and perfects clinical judgment with expanded responsibility for patient management and a supervisory and educational role with junior residents and medical students. Operative experience is gained in complicated trauma, gastrointestinal, hepatic, pancreatobiliary, endocrine, laparoscopic surgery, vascular disorders and a variety of malignant conditions.

Successful completion of a year as Chief Resident qualifies the resident for examination by the American Board of Surgery.

A number of early specialization options are under discussion by the American Board of Surgery and the Department intends to participate in these programs promptly when they become available.

In response to the ACGME's 2003 work hours mandate, the Department of Surgery's Residency Program is in compliance with the new requirements.

Through the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH), the College and affiliated institutions combine their extensive and varied resources to offer 72 separate accredited residencies and fellowships.
 

"I enjoy working hard and learning at MCWAH because it is challenging. Our staff, filled with great instructors and role models, desires to push our residents and residency program to a higher level of excellence. The goal is very clear."
--Michael Nicholl, MD, MCP Hahnemann, Philadelphia, PA

"Here at MCW, we gain a wide variety of experiences in general surgery-tertiary care, private hospitals, a one-on-one preceptorship in thoracic surgery, VA, and overseas rotations. Our trauma census has blossomed over the past 2 years. The campus is in a safe, suburban area of Milwaukee. Residents interact well both on a professional and social basis. We also get time to enjoy all the things Milwaukee has to offer- festivals, Summerfest, State Fair, the lakefront, winter activities, etc."
--David Schultz, MD, Rush University, Chicago, IL

"The diversified experience in a metropolitan setting at MCW is unparalleled. Three years later, I would rank MCW #1 again."
--Fran Herrbold, MD, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

"The Surgery Residency Program here at MCW offers everything that one would want in a training program: an excellent exposure to a wide variety of surgical issues, a thorough curriculum that is constantly updated and improved, a clean, new high-tech hospital, a friendly environment that makes it easy to go to work in the morning, a family-type camaraderie amongst the residents that makes you feel like you always have help when you need it, and all in a setting that offers the benefits of a big city with few of the drawbacks."
--John Touzios, MD, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 

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