Graduate Medical Education

The Department of Surgery is nationally recognized for the excellence of its surgical training programs and consistently attracts outstanding candidates for trainee positions at the house officer and fellowship levels. Intense competition for house officer positions (approximately 1,150 applications were received for 14 available positions to begin for the academic year 2008-2009) ensures recruitment of house officers with the capability to maximize the opportunities afforded by the Department's exceptional clinical strengths and unique research opportunities. Applications for the Integrated Plastic, Integrated Vascular, General Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Thoracic and Vascular Residency Programs were received via the AAMC/NRMP Electronic Residency Application System for the 2008-2009 academic year.

During 2007-2008, there were 107 house officers in residency training in the Department of Surgery. Thirty (intern level) house officers were matched through the National Resident Matching Program. A high percentage of our graduates pursue further surgical specialty training or elect careers in academic surgery. Eighteen residents completed their surgery residency training in 2006-2007. Of these graduates, eight will pursue further surgical specialty training, seven accepted academic positions, three entered private/group practice.

Our faculty provided supplemental training for residents from St. Joesph Mercy Hospital, Synergy Medical, MSU/Kalmazoo Campus and Providence Hospital. They also participated in guest lectures at hospitals in the State of Michigan which have formal affiliation through the Department of Postgraduate Medicine.

Our Commitment

The training programs in surgery at the University of Michigan have the highest priority with our faculty and include approved programs in General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Thoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery. Our programs gain their strength not only from the breadth and variety of clinical experience to which our residents are exposed, but also from the close working relationship between residents and faculty. This relationship emphasizes excellence in clinical surgery and fulfills our primary purpose to train competent and experienced surgeons. In addition to this strong foundation in clinical surgery, the programs encourage a structured exposure to laboratory and/or clinical research. Most general surgery residents elect to spend two years in a preceptorship with a faculty member in surgical research. This experience is available after the third year of residency training.

The surgical heritage at The University of Michigan is unusually strong and associated with such names as Charles deNancrede, Hugh Cabot, John Alexander, Cameron Haight, Reed Nesbit, Frederick Coller and Gardner Child. There are over 100 full-time faculty members including basic scientists in biochemistry, immunology, bioengineering and physiology whose expertise enriches many areas of investigation.

The training programs in surgery are further enhanced by rotations through the Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Medical Center and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. The primary focus of training is the 865 bed University of Michigan Medical Center which is comprise of Adult University Hospital, C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital, Maternal and Child Health Center, Holden Perinatal Hospital, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, Adult Psychiatric Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital, Turner Geriatric Services, the Cancer and Geriatric Center, the Medical School and research buildings, the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Library and the colleges of Nursing, Public Health and Pharmacy. In this setting within the main campus of The University of Michigan, there is a rare combination of interdisciplinary academic support as well as the intellectual stimulation of the entire university community. Within the Department of Surgery there are many resources which complement the formal teaching conferences, such as a large departmental library, modern computer facilities with access to medical literature references, conference rooms, resident/staff rooms and carrels, and a staff of support personnel whose primary commitment is to education.

Since most of the applicants to our program are in the top of their class, it is no surprise that the graduates of our program have excelled in competition for fellowships, completion of requirements for board certification and in careers in both academic surgery and private practice. In accepting the responsibility for an individual's graduate training in surgery, we match the commitment of the resident with our own commitment to provide a rich academic environment in which both personal and professional relationships are fostered.