Curriculum

General Surgery Goals & Objectives

The overall objectives of the general surgery residency program are to:

• Educate and train surgeons who will provide the highest quality of surgical care for their patients.
  
• Provide a comprehensive educational program through a spectrum of didactic, operative, and research experiences in order to encompass the breadth and depth of the field of surgery so as to prepare the resident for fellowship training or clinical practice.
  
• Provide outstanding technical instruction through a challenging and diverse operative experience, which will prepare the resident for clinical practice upon graduation.
  
• Provide avenues for mentorship through which residents may grow professionally while cultivating a strong, positive work ethic and camaraderie.
  
• Involve the resident in surgical research to foster intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and analytical, presentation and communication skills.
  
• Qualify residents to become certified through the American Board of Surgery
  

General Surgery Curriculum

Resident Rotation Schedule

First Postgraduate Year (PGY-I)

The first postgraduate year in surgery is structured to give residents a broad-based experience in general surgery with special emphasis on the development of differential diagnosis, as well as pre- and post-operative care of the surgical patient. Emphasis is also placed on developing sound basic technical skills through direct operative experience. Current PGY-I rotations are as follows:

• General surgery; 2 months
  
• Pediatric surgery; 1 month
  
• SICU; 2 months
  
• Thoracic surgery; 1 month
  
• Urology; 1 month
  
• Colorectal surgery; 1 month
  
• Night float; 2 months
  
• ER consults; 1 month
• Breast Surgery; 1 month

Second Postgraduate Year (PGY-II)

 Second year residents continue to grow and develop their operative skills while increasing their responsibility for the care of surgical patients.  Current PGY-II rotations are as follows:

• General surgery; 2 months
• Colorectal surgery; 2 months
  
• SICU; 2 months
  
• Peripheral Vascular; 2 months
  
• Thoracic; 1 month
  
• Transplant/HPB; 1 month
  
• Night float; 2 months
  

Third Postgraduate Year (PGY-III)

The third post-graduate year of training incorporates, in large part, a series of one-on-one educational experiences with highly rated surgical educators (mentorships). Residents are expected to grow in the depth of their surgical judgment, operative skills, and knowledge of the workings of health care delivery. In addition, the third-year residents are in charge of preparing the anatomy didactic lectures and dissecting the cadaver. Current PGY-III rotations are as follows:

• General surgery; 2 months
• Pediatric surgery; 2 months
• General surgery/HPB; 1 month
• Breast; 1 month
• Surgical Oncology Mentorship; 1 month
• Grosse Pointe-General surgery; 1 month
• Elective; 1 month
• Night float; 1 month
• Endocrine; 2 months

Fourth Postgraduate Year (PGY-IV)

The fourth post-graduate year is a required, ACGME-approved, year of research.  All residents are expected to participate in hypothesis-driven research projects with clearly delineated expectations for accomplishment.  Residents are required to participate in all regularly scheduled educational conferences and departmental research meetings. 

Fifth Postgraduate Year (PGY-V)

During the fifth post-graduate year, residents function at a senior level on all rotations. The Colorectal surgery service is co-managed with a fellow, however, clinical experience is not compromised and individual cases are not co-managed for case log credit. The resident attends a regular weekly outpatient staff clinic. This arrangement provides the senior resident with an appropriate level of autonomy as well as ongoing continuity of care. Current PGY-V rotations are as follows:

• General surgery; 2 months
  
• Thoracic surgery; 3 months
  
• Colorectal surgery; 2 months
  
• Transplant; 2 months
  
• SICU; 1 month
• Night float; 1 month
• Float; 1 month

Sixth Postgraduate Year (PGY-VI)

During the sixth post-graduate year, in addition to senior level responsibilities on each clinical service, the PGY-VI surgical residents continue to be primarily responsible for the care of acute care surgery service patients. The resident attends a regular weekly outpatient staff clinic similar to their fifth year. Current PGY-VI rotations are as follows:

• General surgery; 7 months
  
• Peripheral Vascular surgery; 2 months
  
• Night float; 1 month
  
• Elective; 1 month
• Endoscopy; 1 month

Teaching conference

• ABSITE reviews
• SCORE lectures
• SEMCME lectures
• anatomy lectures with cadaver lab dissections
• surgical skills sessions
• sub specialty conferences
• monthly journal club

• bedside rounds
• outpatient clinics
• operative procedures