About the Medical College of Wisconsin General Surgery Residency Program

PGY 1

• 6 week protected curriculum blocks spread throughout the year

PGY 2-5 Weekly Curriculum

• Weekly 2-hour faculty led facilitated discussions using This Week in SCORE (TWIS) curriculum (basis of the ABS CE)
• Weekly readings and quizzes
• After Wednesday M&M/Grand Rounds conferences
• Skills sessions for an additional 2 hours
• Twice monthly for PGY-2s, once monthly for PGY-3s-5s
• Faculty panels on job finding, planning for fellowship, coping with difficult patient outcomes, surgeon financial plannings
• 1-2 cadaver and 1-2 live tissue labs per year for each class including the ACS ASSET and ATOM trauma courses
• Engaged curriculum support staff and faculty who incorporate new resident suggestions each year

The Medical College of Wisconsin General Surgery Residency is proud to feature a comprehensive, multi-phase Robotic Surgery Curriculum. We aim to equip residents with the knowledge and technical acumen to be skilled robotic surgeons upon graduation. Training begins early, soon after intern orientation. Our curriculum consists of the following:

• Dry labs utilizing the full DaVinci robotic platform
• Simulator training modules using the SimNow platform, on a dedicated educational robotic console accessible 24/7 to residents
• Online learning modules
• Case reviews
• Bedside and console cases
• Attending evaluations of bedside and console proficiency

Upon completing these requirements, residents will be able to obtain a Da Vinci Training Equivalency Certificate.

View the 2025-2026 Residency Rotation Block Diagram (PDF)

The MCW General Surgery Wellness Committee aims to improve the residency experience by facilitating meaningful wellness initiatives grounded in resident interest and feedback. We focus on simple measures that support our residents and can be integrated easily into the complex logistics of residency training. While 'being well' means different things to every individual resident, the Wellness Committee seeks to offer a space for all residents to bring ideas forward that can improve our personal and community wellness culture.

Wellness Committee Chairs: Hannah Holland and Andrew Kim

Check out our General Surgery Parental Wellness Guide (PDF)

Follow us on Instagram to keep up with our latest resident wellness events

An optional dedicated research experience is available for residents interested in conducting research under the guidance of an established investigator. Residents have the choice to do 1-2 years of research after their PGY 2 or PGY 3 year.

Research projects can be undertaken in any surgical discipline and across a variety of research methodologies including, but not limited to, basic science, clinical outcomes/trials, surgical education, and quality improvement. Activities during research years include project development and execution as set forth by the resident’s mentor, individualized learning activities, methods-oriented journal clubs, as well as a didactic curriculum focusing on advanced methods and scientific writing.

Specific funded research opportunities are available through the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital, Children’s Wisconsin, select NIH funding applications, and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

PGY 3 through PGY 5 residents participate in Mock Oral Boards each June. This exercise presents itself as a representation of the American Board of Surgery certifying exam. Each resident has three, one-on-one sessions with 1-2 faculty members during which time they are asked patient-centered questions. Residents are graded on their ability to articulate correct responses, think on their feet and communicate in a professional manner, all in preparation for the certifying examination.

The Department of Surgery will support resident travel to national conferences for scientific presentations. Residents will receive financial support to attend up to two conferences every academic year, in which they are presenting a poster or podium abstract.

We believe that your family is important and spending time with them is a necessary part of your life. We provide for several annual events which are department or resident driven. These include a resident welcome picnic each July, the Thanksgiving dinner in November and a resident holiday party in December.

Residents training in the General Surgery Training Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin are employed by the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals. The Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH) is a consortium that was established in 1980 to facilitate the administration of Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs conducted jointly by the Medical College of Wisconsin in conjunction with 10 health care institutions in the greater Milwaukee area. MCWAH oversees housestaff benefits and institutional policies.

View information about benefits, conditions, and terms of employment

During the third year of clinical training, residents have the option to select one of seven blocks as an elective rotation. This elective can focus on the individual resident’s preferred interest or to help identify a career track.

Residents interested in Global Health rotations can participate in a 1-month global surgery experience during their elective PGY3 rotation.