General Surgery Residency Program
The Department of Surgery has been training residents in General Surgery for well over 100 years. We have a tradition of excellence that is built upon our commitment to a broad-based educational experience. We believe our training environment provides a suitable background for the pursuit of a wide variety of career paths. Many of our graduates directly enter clinical practice, while others elect to obtain sub-specialty training at prestigious and competitive fellowship programs. Numerous graduates of our program are now leaders in academic surgery, including department chairs and presidents of national surgical organizations. As the practice of surgery continues to evolve, the training program at the University of Louisville remains committed to balancing the surgical traditions of the past with the dynamic changes of the future.
Welcome to UofL Health
The training I obtained in Louisville has provided a fantastic building block for the practice of broad-based surgery... I can't think of a better program that could train a young physician to practice surgery; not general surgery or trauma surgery or colorectal surgery or laparoscopic surgery, but simply surgery. I feel like a surgeon - the surgeon I dreamt of becoming.
Program Directors
General Surgery Residency Program Overview
The general surgery residency program is supervised by Dr. Matthew Benns, Program Director, Dr. Keith Miller and Dr. Farid Kehdy, Associate Program Directors and Dr. Kelly McMasters, Chair for the Department of Surgery at the University of Louisville (UofL). This five-year ACGME-accredited training program is founded on several key principles: intense experience in patient care and decision-making, early operative exposure and the development of surgical science. This philosophy has developed through a rich history of surgical education and continues to produce the finest clinical and academic surgeons of our day. Our graduating chief residents have the general knowledge, clinical judgment and basic technical skills to be confident and knowledgeable general surgeons or to continue their training in any competitive fellowship
Autonomy: The UofL program offers an atmosphere of independence and graded responsibility that facilitates growth as a young surgeon. Residents gain early operative experience culminating in the chief year being fully credentialed at University and VA Medical Centers. The surgical intensive care units continue to be managed by surgical residents and faculty. Our residents gain significant critical care experience during dedicated ICU months in the PGY-1 and PGY-2 years.
Patient-based training: University of Louisville surgical residents train in a hands-on, non-simulated environment. With a large number of patients and very busy services, residents are exposed to a variety of surgical techniques very early in training. This experience is central to the Department's philosophy.
Operative experience: The sizeable patient base and variety of affiliated hospitals allow each resident to gain the breadth and depth of surgical experience necessary to gain board certification and feel confident practicing general surgery. Throughout the five-year program, most residents will perform 1,200 cases including complex hepatobiliary, oncologic, vascular, transplant, pediatric, trauma, laparoscopic and robotic procedures. Residents also gain significant experience in interventional endoscopy, thoracoscopy and endovascular techniques.
Facilities: Residents rotate through five major hospitals creating a diverse experience in various patient populations. University Hospital, Norton Children's Hospital, Norton Hospital and Jewish Hospital are all downtown within four city blocks while the VA Medical Center is only 3.5 miles away. Residents enjoy this close proximity and the ability to attend most departmental conferences and meetings. Rural rotations at the Regional Medical Center in Madisonville and Owensboro Health Regional Hospital are also offered.
Resident Rotations
Our training philosophy emphasizes total patient care including outpatient pre and postoperative care, pre-operative decision making, intra-operative technique and operative strategy, and postoperative critical care. Residents on each rotation participate in all these aspects of patient care, including all ICU care, with increasing responsibility commensurate with their experience and PGY level. Clinics are part of most all rotations.
The are two acute care surgical services at ULH and typically the team consists of PGY-5, 3,2, and 1 general surgery residents and PGY-1 rotators from other specialties. The entire team is in house during their particular shift and average census is 40 patients per team with about 15 in the ICU. All acute care patients including emergency general surgery, blunt and penetrating trauma, and burns are admitted to this service. The team also provides critical care consultation to other services in the ICU. Faculty include Drs. Harbrecht, Smith, Franklin, Benns, Miller, Nash, and Bozeman with additional faculty providing night and weekend coverage. Four nurse practitioners assist the two teams with patient care and documentation. The operative experience includes a wide variety of urgent cases in these areas and there are two trauma clinics per week for ambulatory follow-up. There are also intensivists (PGY-2) and floor day floats to assist the post call team and insure continuity of care.
This team is comprised of a PGY-5, 3, and 2 including rotators from other specialties. Cases include a variety of open and minimally invasive procedures including intra-abdominal procedures, hernia repairs, and endocrine procedures with an average inpatient census of 15 patients. There is one clinic day per week for ambulatory care and continuity of patient care. The team also takes night call twice per week to relieve the trauma teams and comply with the ACGME duty hours requirements. The residents in the lab also assist twice per month and the critical care fellows also take call as well.
There are two teams at the VA. Each team is comprised of a PGY-5, 3 or 2, and two PGY-1s and cases included a wide variety of surgery for benign and malignant diseases including vascular and endoscopy. Faculty include Dr. Yancey, Chief of Surgery, and Drs. Wrightson, Franklin, Gaar and one nurse practitioner. There are several clinics at the VA including general surgery, vascular, and colorectal, and residents see all patients under attending supervision.
This team consists of a PGY-4 or 5, 3, 2, and 1 and is responsible for all general surgery patients, which averages about 20 patients.
Dr. Kehdy's practice is based at Norton, where residents perform a wide variety of laparoscopic foregut procedures, robotic procedures, complex general surgery cases, and interventional endoscopy. Drs.
Cheadle,
Benns, and
Bozeman also practice broad-based general surgery at Norton. One nurse practitioner supports the team.
This three-person team consist of a PGY-4, 3, and a 1. Several busy general surgeons, including our acute care surgical faculty, have a busy broad-based general surgery practice that includes many emergency cases. The team also participates in patient care for a busy private practice group on the clinical teaching faculty, and the average total inpatient census is 20 patients.
This team consists of a PGY 4 or 3, and a 1. Residents participate in all aspects of kidney, pancreas, and liver transplantation including operations, peri-operative critical care and immune suppression regimens under the supervisions of Drs. Adamson, Eng, and Jones. Residents also attend 3 weekly transplant clinics and closely interact with two transplant coordinators with an average inpatient census of 10.
This service consist of the colorectal fellow and a PGY-4 or 5, and a PGY-1, under the supervision of Drs. Galandiuk, Jordan, Ellis, and Farmer. Patients are independently managed by either the general surgery resident or colorectal fellow. General surgery residents participate in both routine and complex colorectal operations, faculty and resident clinics, and the colorectal conference. This service emphasizes one-on-one teaching to the general surgery resident in the private office of these faculty members. The average in patient census is 15, and the general surgery resident sees about 50 outpatients per week, which includes office procedures.
This service consists of the surgical oncology fellow, and five general surgery residents (PGY-5, 4, 3, 2 and 1) under the supervision of Drs.
McMasters,
Martin,
Scoggins,
Phillips,
Ajkay, and
Egger. The fellow and general surgery residents manage their own patients independently, and there is emphasis on faculty - resident teaching in the private office. Residents perform a wide variety of oncologic surgery including visceral resections, hepatectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, sarcoma resections, wide local excision of melanoma, and breast cases including sentinel node biopsy, partial/total mastectomy and axillary dissections. The average in patient census is 20. Residents also participate in tumor board, melanoma, conference, and breast and surgical oncology clinics, seeing approximately 30 outpatients per week.
This service consists of a PGY 5 or 4, and PGY 3 or 2 under the supervision of Drs.
Dwivedi,
Sigdel and
Wayne. Residents perform a variety of both open and endovascular cases including many vascular emergencies, and the average inpatient census is 25. They also participate in vascular and diabetic foot clinic at ULH, seeing about 15 patients per week and present cases at the weekly vascular conference.
This service consists of the pediatric surgery fellow, and four general surgery residents (PGY-4, 3 or 2, and two 1s) under the supervision of Drs. Fallat, Bond, Downard, Foley, Murrell and Wright. Norton Children's Hospital is one of the nations largest and the residents will perform a variety of cases on pediatric patients from newborns to teens. These include index cases, neonatal procedures, complex abdominal procedures, and the more routine hernias and appendectomies. The inpatient census is about 60 including the NCIU and ICU, and these unit patients are managed in conjunction with the pediatric intensivists and neonatologists.
Residents at the PGY-2 to 4 levels may choose electives at either Madisonville or Owensboro, during which time they will work with several general surgeons both in the hospital and their offices. Owensboro is located about 106 miles and Madisonville 130 miles west of Louisville. The resident typically performs about 75 general surgical cases per month and gains knowledge of typical rural practices in these areas.
Educational Goals & Objectives
The major educational goal of the General Surgery Residency Training Program in the Department of Surgery at the University of Louisville is to produce a board certified surgeon capable of independently practicing general surgery of highest quality.
On completion of the program, the surgeon should have a general knowledge, clinical judgment, the basic technical skills and personality attributes to establish rapport with patients and their families for the practice of general surgery, and be assessed as competent in the six general areas as outlined under the core competencies.
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), including the Residency Review Committee (RRC) for surgery, has adopted a set of general competencies for all physicians who complete higher training programs. These have been adapted for each specialty. In the near future, all chief residents must be assessed as competent in these areas prior to receiving certification for completion of residency training and undertaking the American Board of Surgery examinations. The six general competencies are:
Patient Care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health. Surgical residents must demonstrate manual dexterity appropriate for their training level and be able to develop and execute patient care plans. Our general surgery residents maintain primary responsibility while patients are in the ICU during all rotations at all the hospitals.
Medical Knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and cognate (e.g. epidemiological and social-behavioral) sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care. Surgical residents are expected to critically evaluate and demonstrate knowledge of pertinent scientific information.
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement that involves investigation and evaluation of their own patient care, appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence, and improvements in patient care. Surgical residents are expected to critique personal practice outcomes and demonstrate recognition of the importance of lifelong learning in surgical practice.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families, and other health professionals. Surgical residents are expected to communicate effectively with other health care professionals, counsel and educate patients and families, and effectively document practice activities.
Professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population. Surgical residents are expected to maintain high standards of ethical behavior, demonstrate a commitment to continuity of patient care, and demonstrate sensitivity to age, gender and culture of patients and other health care professionals.
Systems-Based Practice, as manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value. Surgical residents are expected to practice high quality, cost effective patient care, demonstrate a knowledge of risk-benefit analysis, and demonstrate an understanding of the role of different specialists and other health care professionals in overall patient management.
These attributes will be acquired over at least a five-year training period by acquiring new knowledge through:
- Clinical experiences
- Reviewing and discussing current literature and major textbooks (Didactic sessions, Journal Clubs, Rotational Conferences, QI/ PI Conferences)
- Attending bedside rounds and conferences
- Preparing reports for presentation and publication (residents are required to produce a manuscript-quality project that is ready for publication to complete their residency).
Knowledge of the clinical course of patient disease will be acquired by managing surgical patients both as in- and outpatients, including management of the critically ill surgical patient. Most importantly, technical skill to perform operations and intra-operative decision-making will be acquired through observation and performance of a variety of surgical procedures within the realm of general surgery over the training period.
The residents will record each operation performed or assisted, in an ongoing fashion, thereby preparing an operative log of case experience. This operative log will be entered directly onto the web-site provided by the RRC for Surgery. Each resident is responsible for his/her own resident data collection for the duration of his/her residency. The ability to convey the clinical course of given patients will be developed by case presentations during walk rounds and conferences. The ability to interact appropriately with referring physicians and consulting physicians will be acquired by periodic communication with such physicians throughout the training period.
The Clinical Experience by Post-Graduate Year
The intern will become familiar with the fundamentals of management and pre- and post-operative care of the general, pediatric, and transplant surgical patient. This goal will be achieved by performance of initial patient assessment including history and physical and interpretation of routine laboratory tests and imaging studies. Additionally, assistance with or performance of certain operations will be carried out. The PGY-1 resident will also acquire knowledge of post-operative patient care by daily assessment of in-hospital post-operative patients on the floor and, as needed, in the Intensive Care Unit. Further knowledge of post-operative care will be learned by attending clinics and management of the patient in an ambulatory setting. Technical skills including basic instrument techniques, suturing, and retracting shall also be learned during the PG-1 year. It is our goal that residents will act as surgeon for some basic cases with proper supervision.
The second year resident will further enhance their skills of peri-operative and operative management by performing additional and more complex operations. These trainees have a primary role in the Intensive Care Unit at most of the major integrated and affiliated hospitals and should be facile with all invasive procedures relevant to ICU care. Skills in surgical specialty services not acquired in the intern year will be done in this year. PGY-2 residents will generally be responsible for presentation of patients during teaching rounds at the VAMC and University Hospital.
During the third year, initial patient assessment skills will be honed by seeing the majority of consultations on the Emergency Surgical Service (Trauma and Acute Care Surgery) at University Hospital, as well as the General Surgical Services at the VAMC. The PGY-3 resident will acquire a full range of technical skills regarding intestinal surgery, laparotomy for trauma, and major resuscitation of the trauma patient. The PGY-3 resident will have met all of the goals for the surgical specialties listed with the exception of the senior rotation in Pediatric Surgery.
During the fourth year of training, the resident should acquire the knowledge, skill and personal attributes to be chief resident while at the major private services at Norton, Norton Children's Hospital and Jewish Hospital. The PGY-4 coordinates a resident team in ongoing patient care and operative case distribution. The PGY-4 resident will routinely communicate with the attending to discuss pre-operative and post-operative patient care and mutually participate in critical decision making. These residents should be able to perform most complicated operations by the end of this year.
The chief year comprises of preparation relevant to assuming independent responsibility for total care of the surgical patient. The chief resident will assume team leadership of various rotations in adult hospitals. The chief residents generally:
- Supervises all in-hospital patient care and outpatient care in the clinics.
- Prepares the morbidity and mortality reports presented at the Quality Improvement Conference
- Becomes familiar with quality assurance issues with a seat on the Quality Assurance Committee at University Hospital.
- Develops clinical decision-making skills by interacting directly with the attending surgeon for critically ill patients and those undergoing operation.
- Supervises and assists junior residents in critical patient care, as well as in performing operations.
Resident Research Opportunities
The general surgery training program is a 5-year program with an option to take additional years devoted to research. There are opportunities to pursue research projects in a variety of ways including both basic and clinical projects. Several of the faculty in the Department of Surgery have funded research laboratories. Our residents are encouraged to seek positions in their labs as a priority if they desire to perform basic science research. There are extensive patient databases in both surgical oncology and trauma that can be analyzed to produce clinical data. Prospective clinical trials are more difficult to manage, but opportunities exist to be involved with these, although timing is of the essence to be able to present and publish results. A resident may also pursue advanced degrees in basic science, public health, and business. Please see research section below for further details.
The following guidelines apply to general surgery residents interested in taking 1 or 2 years (3 years in the unusual circumstance) for research and additional training after either their PGY-2 or PGY-3 year.
Is there a certain timeline to declare my intent?
General surgery residents who are interested in taking a 1 or 2 year research or additional clinical training away from their general surgical training must declare the intent by the timelines outlined below. The intent of a research/additional training year must have a clear goal and intent for future education and/or practice.
- The end of the resident’s PGY-1 year if the resident wishes to go out after their PGY-2 year.
- The end of the resident’s PGY-2 year if the resident wishes to go out after their PGY-3 year.
Do I need to seek approval?
The declaration and discussion for research or additional training must be confirmed by the following three individuals.
-
Matthew V. Benns, MD, Associate Professor, Program Director, Division of General Surgery
-
Robert C. G. Martin, II, MD, PhD, Division Director
Vice Chair for Research
Sam and Lolita Weakley Endowed Chair
-
Kelly M. McMasters, MD, PhD, Ben A. Reid, Sr. Professor and Chair
Are there restrictions on my choice of research mentors?
Residents must have an agreed upon and established mentor first within the Department of Surgery and if not within the Department of Surgery then upon an agreed upon mentor outside of the Department of Surgery.
What are the current research/additional training options that are available?
- Trauma Critical Care Fellowship
- Surgical Quality Research Fellowship
- Surgical Oncology/Immuno-Oncology Research
- ERCP Advanced Pancreaticobiliary Fellowship
What if there are more residents than research slots?
These opportunities will be made available to the appropriate-year resident as well as to the resident who shows specific knowledge and technical proficiency during their initial PGY-1 to PGY-3 years while at the University of Louisville. In the event that there are more residents for research slots for any given year, then the residents will be selected based on:
- Absite Scores from year 1 and 2.
- Average Med Hub scores.
- Demonstration of research interest during year 1 and first 6 months of 2nd year (i.e., papers, book chapters).
- The necessity of the planned chosen fellowship – requires research experience and productivity.
Are there accountability requirements with publications?
Reasonable Productivity and Accountability Metrics for Residents Interested in Research
- A resident taking 1 year of research is required to produce at least 4-5 peer-review manuscripts in the research focus area and at least 2-3 submitted abstracts to specialty, national, and regional surgical meetings.
- A resident taking 2 years of research is required to produce at least 8-10 peer review manuscripts in the research focus area as well as strong consideration for additional education such as a master’s to further enhance research productivity.
Susan Galandiuk, MD (Digestive Surgery): She is the Director of the Price Institute of Surgical Research and head of the Digestive Surgery Research Laboratory. Located in the Price Institute in the MDR building, her lab has focused on the genetic predisposition to inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.
Research-->
Brian G. Harbrecht, MD (Trauma and Critical Care): He is the Director of Trauma Surgery. Located in the MDR building, his research has centered on the role of insulin control of NO production in hepatocytes as well as funded clinical investigations in trauma and emergency services.
Robert C. G. Martin, II, MD, PhD (Surgical Oncology) Located in the Price Institute in the MDR building, his research has focused on optimal treatment for all stages of pancreatic cancer and optimal management of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Kelly M. McMasters, MD, PhD (Surgical Oncology): Located in the Kosair Charities Clinical and Translational Research Building, our Chair directs basic investigations in melanoma, immunotherapy, and breast cancer.
Jun Yan, MD, PhD (Director, Immunotherapy Research): Located in the Kosair Charities Clinical and Translational Research Building. Research includes breakthrough science involving the immune system.
Surgical residents have the opportunity to pursue advanced basic science degrees (Masters, Ph.D.) and have done so with subsequent successful academic careers. Virtually all have done so through a cooperative program between the Departments of Surgery and Physiology.
Virtually all of the faculty are engaged in clinical research projects, including retrospective studies and prospective clinical trials that follow their particular disciplines. Many of these are highlighted in the clinical funding and other funding sections of the Research section.
Residents may choose to work with several faculty in the course of performing both basic and/or clinical research including the pursuit of advanced degrees. Several residents have chosen to obtain a Master of Public Health or Master of Science degree from the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences. Most residents who take time off for one or two years of dedicated research will be active in both clinical and basic science research with their surgical faculty mentors. The areas available for study with dedicated faculty mentors are quite diverse.
Resident Publications
All residents are required to produce two manuscript-quality pieces of work that are ready for publication to complete their residency.
- A resident taking 1 year of research is required to produce at least 4-5 peer-review manuscripts in the research focus area and at least 2-3 submitted abstracts to specialty, national, and regional surgical meetings.
- A resident taking 2 years of research is required to produce at least 8-10 peer review manuscripts in the research focus area as well as strong consideration for additional education such as a master’s to further enhance research productivity.
Surgical Resident Stipend Rates (2021-2022)
| POST GRADUATE LEVEL |
ANNUAL |
MONTHLY |
| Post Graduate Level 1 |
$56,346.79 |
$4,695.57 |
| Post Graduate Level 2 |
$58,452.52 |
$4,871.04 |
| Post Graduate Level 3 |
$60,339.84 |
$5,028.32 |
| Post Graduate Level 4 |
$63,065.75 |
$5,255.48 |
| Post Graduate Level 5 |
$66,122.36 |
$5,510.20 |
| Post Graduate Level 6 |
$69,106.85 |
$5,758.90 |
| Post Graduate Level 7 |
$71,982.13 |
$5,998.51 |
| Post Graduate Level 8 |
$75,808.30 |
$6,317.36 |
Stipend rates based on 2% increase for all PG levels
(Parking expenses were rolled into stipends beginning July 2010)
Fringe and administrative rate remains at 28.00% of annual stipend
|
Life Insurance
Term life insurance is provided for all residents, in the amount of $2000 of life insurance for each $1000 of annual stipend. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included.
Health Care Coverage
The University offers a complete package of insurance coverage for our residents and their families, including health, dental, vision, prescription, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Life, Short Term Disability and Long Term Care. Single and family coverage is available at group rates. Several different plans at varying costs are available to choose from. Residents may choose Premium Conversion, which permits payment of premiums with automatic deduction of pre-tax dollars from the resident's monthly salary. Information regarding health insurance benefits can be found at the following link: https://louisville.edu/hr/benefits/health
Dental Care and Coverage
The Faculty Practice Office in the Outpatient Care Center will provide an annual examination, including cleaning and up to four bitewing x-rays, to residents free of charge. Any additional services are the responsibility of the resident. Residents can call 852-5401 for information. Residents may also purchase, at group rates, dental insurance in both single and family plans.
Workers Compensation
All residents are covered by workers compensation for medical expenses and lost work time due to job-related illness or injury.
Disability Insurance
Long-term disability insurance is provided for residents, free of charge. Residents have the option of converting the coverage from group to individual at the end of their training, and the option of purchasing additional coverage at very reduced rates.
Malpractice Insurance
Coverage is provided for all residents by either the University of Louisville or by the hospitals to which residents are assigned. This coverage applies to all assigned rotations that are part of residency training, as detailed on the reverse side of the resident agreement.
Campus Health Service Office
Hepatitis B immunization and an annual TB skin test are required and furnished free of charge to all residents. The Campus Health Services Office provides minor urgent medical care and immunizations, including boosters and TB testing. Personal counseling is also available. The Campus Health Services Office also serves as an on-site treatment facility for workers compensation related injuries and exposures including needle sticks, and as the repository of resident immunization records and exposure data. The office is staffed by board-certified faculty physicians and faculty nurse practitioners who have extensive primary care and occupational exposure experience.
Medical Licensure
Commonwealth of Kentucky resident training licensure and renewal fees are paid by the department for the duration of surgical residency in the program.
Vacation
General Surgery PGY 1s through PGY 5s are given 4 weeks paid vacation, which may be taken all at once or may be divided into 2 week periods.
Plastic Surgery residents are given 2 weeks paid vacation per year.
**At the discretion of the Program Director, an additional two weeks may be permitted for personal or educational leave.
Physician Placement Service
The University of Louisville Physician Placement Services provides free assistance to residents seeking practice opportunities in Kentucky. Call Jan Hurst at 1-800-821-1088.
Library Privileges
Residents have library privileges at the Kornhauser Library and at all of the affiliated hospitals. Available services include electronic literature, searches, and an Inter-library loan service.
Lab Coats
Lab coats with embroidered names are provided to residents at the beginning of their training.
Athletics Tickets
Residents are eligible to purchase student athletics tickets at reduced prices through the Athletics Department. Most faculty have season tickets to all major sports and are willing to share them with residents.
Other Benefits
Additional benefits may include textbooks, professional dues, or funds for travel to educational meetings.
Recreational Facilities
We have partnered with Planet Fitness for a reduced expense Black card for $15/month and no annual or initial feeds.
Application and Interview Process
Application Procedure
The following information outlines the process for medical students applying for a surgical internship, beginning July 1, 2022, continuing into a general surgery residency on July 1, 2023.
Applicants must have their files completed for screening prior to receiving an invitation to interview. Applications must be submitted using ERAS.
A completed ERAS application contains the following documents:
- ERAS application
- MSPE letter (Dean's Letter) - after November 1st
- 3-5 letters of recommendation*
- USMLE I and II scores
- Medical school transcript
*While your letters of recommendation should be addressed to the Program Director, please send them via ERAS.
Interview Process
The General Surgery Review Committee will screen all applicants, and invitations will be issued. Upon receipt of the invitation, please contact Machenize Eason at 502.852.1895 to arrange your interview according to the following schedule:
- October 14, 2022
- November 4, 2022
- November 18, 2022
- December 16, 2022
Internship dates run from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
Grand Rounds will be held virtually at 7:00 am and is optional for applicants.
Interviews will be conducted in-person or virtually TBD and begin at 9:00 am.
Dr. Kelly M. McMasters, Department Chair, will give an overview of the program. Candidates will have 3 half-hour interviews with surgery faculty and current residents in addition to an interview with Dr. McMasters and the Program Directors.
Operative Experience
The operative experience is so extensive at UofL that our chief residents often are instructing our junior residents.
| Average of Cases by Surgery Type |
|
| Case
|
2015-16
|
2016-17
|
2017-18
|
2018-19
|
2019-20
|
Average
|
ACGME
Targets
|
| Skin and Soft Tissue/Breast
|
99
|
125
|
77
|
102
|
76
|
96
|
25/40
|
| Head and Neck
|
98
|
132
|
119
|
109
|
86
|
109
|
25
|
| Alimentary Tract
|
296
|
266
|
301
|
316
|
318
|
299
|
180
|
| Abdomen
|
302
|
328
|
336
|
373
|
310
|
330
|
250
|
| Liver
|
22
|
27
|
27
|
28
|
16
|
24
|
5
|
| Pancreas
|
21
|
26
|
21
|
17
|
15
|
20
|
5
|
| Vascular
|
158
|
205
|
205
|
243
|
168
|
196
|
50
|
| Endocrine
|
48
|
70
|
54
|
38
|
42
|
50
|
15
|
| Trauma (Operative)
|
48
|
61
|
51
|
77
|
60
|
59
|
10
|
| Trauma (Non-Operative)
|
120
|
81
|
73
|
49
|
48
|
74
|
40
|
| Thoracic
|
45
|
52
|
52
|
58
|
40
|
50
|
20
|
| Pediatrics
|
82
|
81
|
67
|
65
|
62
|
71
|
20
|
| Plastics
|
32
|
44
|
33
|
44
|
42
|
39
|
10
|
| Laparoscopic Basic
|
155
|
159
|
166
|
180
|
162
|
164
|
100
|
| Endoscopy
|
155
|
167
|
163
|
179
|
133
|
159
|
85
|
| Laparoscopic Complex
|
114
|
112
|
108
|
123
|
131
|
118
|
75
|
| Average of Cases by Resident Type |
|
|
2015-16
|
2016-17
|
2017-18
|
2018-19
|
2019-20
|
Average
|
ACGME
Targets
|
| Surgeon Chief
|
193
|
198
|
228
|
211
|
194
|
205
|
200
|
| Teaching Assistant
|
96
|
74
|
33
|
53
|
32
|
58
|
25
|
| Total Major Cases
|
1,180
|
1,311
|
1,227
|
1,376
|
1,169
|
1,253
|
850
|
| Defined Category Case Averages 2015-2020
|
| PGY-1
|
PGY-2
|
PGY-3
|
PGY-4
|
PGY-5
|
| 69
|
266
|
526
|
971
|
1,249
|
Integrated Hospitals
Resident Education should be broad-based and varied. It should contain not only varied operative experience, but also diverse exposure to types of patients from differing income and social strata, educational backgrounds, and ethnic groups. To obtain this diverse experience, our program has fully integrated all of the major hospitals that comprise the medical center campus an area of several square blocks of sophisticated hospitals as well as the Veterans Administration Medical Center, located two miles away.
Take a tour
Thus, our full-time faculty and resident staff have full access to more than 1,500 hospital beds and 150 operating rooms. The surgical trainee is exposed to a variety of diagnostic preferences, technical variations, and overall clinical diversity because the attending staff members come from diverse schools of surgery. In the age of managed care, when large groups of patients may shift quickly from one provider to another as a result of provider contract negotiations, this arrangement ensures a steady patient population and provides tremendous flexibility of training.
Surgical residents are expected to participate in pre- and post-operative care on all rotations and be responsible for completion of appropriate paperwork including history and physicals, daily notes, operative notes, and discharge summaries. It is expected that the attending surgeon will be consulted as consistent with both his moral and legal responsibility to the patient. Should your performance be particularly conscientious, you may reasonably expect to do part or all of some operations, under direct supervision, when the attending surgeon has had the opportunity to come to know your abilities.
The volume and diversity of this surgical experience should be such that it will greatly increase the facility with which you learn surgery including a greater depth of understanding of this challenging field. The assignment of full-time faculty to each institution has enhanced the value of the experience, with particular reference to continuity, conferences, and overall surgical education.
This 421-bed hospital serves as the main teaching hospital for the University of Louisville School of Medicine and is the primary Trauma Center for greater Louisville. Of the 421 beds, 150 are assigned to the Surgery Department. Approximately 12, 000 patients are admitted to the hospital annually, and more than 57,000 patients are treated in its Emergency Room. University Hospital is the keystone of our regions only Level 1 Trauma Center. A variety of surgical cases are treated at University Hospital, including trauma emergency surgery, surgical oncology, and endoscopy. Three separate surgical services including two emergency general surgery, trauma, and burn services, and an elective general surgical service are staffed by a full complement of residents and each directed by a chief resident. There are eight clinics per Week in the Ambulatory Care Building adjoining the hospital, providing residents with the necessary exposure to pre-hospital management planning, post-hospital follow-up, and continuity of care.
More than 500 of the area's physicians are on the medical staff. Kelly M. McMasters, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chair, is Chief of Surgery and Dr. Glen Franklin is director of surgical education. Dr. Susan Galandiuk has a busy private practice in colorectal surgery there, as well. Private patients of other faculty are regularly hospitalized here.
The hospital is part of a four-building complex that also includes the Healthcare Outpatient Center, which houses University of Louisville Physicians, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, and Institutional Services Center.
The Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center is 444-bed complex is located about 3.5 miles from the downtown medical center. The VA Medical Center offers a rich patient experience in complex general surgery, surgical oncology, and vascular surgery. The spectrum of disease seen is typical of any VA and includes vascular disease, cancer, hernias, complex intra-abdominal cases, and complicated wounds. There is a busy endoscopic service at the Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center that is staffed by surgeons with expertise in endoscopy. The surgery clinics are particularly efficient and include two general surgery clinics and vascular clinic.
Dr. Earl Gaar is Chief of the Surgical Service and several attending surgeons are either part or full time there. The hospital has about 100 filled beds, and there are two resident surgical services, where a chief resident directs each service. The electronic medical record is state of the art.
Although this 335-bed adult general hospital is a private hospital, there is a strong teaching emphasis, with 24-hour resident coverage in medical and surgical specialties. Surgical residents cover all of the surgical disciplines at the Norton Hospital. Most surgical cases are in the areas of complex general surgery, vascular, interventional endoscopy and oncology. Full-time faculty conducts 70 percent of the general surgery.
Five to six residents are assigned to the adult general surgical service. There are two senior residents (PGY IV), and an additional 3 to 4 junior residents. Several junior medical students are assigned to the service. The surgical subspecialties, including plastic surgery, all have house officer coverage provided by rotating general surgical house officers or residents within their own discipline.
The Norton Hospital rotation has grown to one of the most attractive and productive rotations for our residents. This rotation affords the residents a large volume of both routine and referral type general surgical procedures. Additionally, the resident staff will have supervised operative responsibility for selected patients. The junior resident is on in-house call every third night, and the senior residents alternate call from home as backup.
A Tuesday afternoon teaching conference covers selected cases of interesting patients who are being cared for by the service. In addition to faculty, resident and student participation from Norton Hospital, attending staff and residents from Jewish Hospital join for this conference.
This 235-bed hospital is the only comprehensive childrens hospital and pediatric trauma center in the state of Kentucky. It functions as the main teaching hospital for the Department of Pediatrics and has been designated a Level I Pediatric Trauma Hospital. Opportunity exists for close interaction between our residents and the five full-time pediatric surgery faculty members.
The Norton Children's Hospital rotation is a busy one with responsibilities for newborn surgery, children's trauma, care of patients on the Oncology Service, the Burn Service, and consultation in an active Emergency Room and Surgical Clinic.
The senior resident functions as the chief resident on the Service and is supported by three to four junior residents. While on the Children's Service, the residents work closely with the attending pediatric surgeons in the care of a wide range of surgical illness from the newborn period to teenage years. The chief surgical resident is responsible for maintaining the call schedule in which he takes calls at home, while the junior residents have in-hospital coverage every second or third night.
While at Norton Children's, the residents participate in a weekly scheduled residents' teaching conference, student rounds presentations, and attend the Pediatric Grand Rounds as part of their total exposure to children's surgical care. Dr. Mary Fallat is Surgeon-in-Chief at Norton Children's Hospital.
There are separate services of general surgery, transplantation, and cardiac surgery at this 441-bed teaching hospital. Residents are assigned to each of these services and all are under the supervision of the surgical staff members who are clinical faculty members of this Department. Three surgical residents participate in the private general surgical service. Two surgical house officers also participate in the transplantation service. The hospital is home to all solid organ transplants. PGY-I house officers will be assigned full-time to the Jewish Hospital rotation in cardiovascular surgery. These house officers will be on the full-time University Service directed by Dr. Mark Slaughter.
The Regional Medical Center in Madisonville, KY is located about 160 miles from Louisville has been an excellent rotation for our residents for over 30 years. The hospital is divided by a large multi-specialty clinic. The Trover clinic staff numbers more than 100, including 3 general surgeons. Dr. Rao is director of this rotation. The Owensboro Health Hospital and Surgicenter is located in Owensboro, KY about 60 miles southeast of Louisville. Dr. Falcone is director of this new rotation and we are pleased to have many surgeons who trained in Louisville supervise our current residents there. Residents will be exposed to patients with different health issues and will have the opportunity to provide high-quality surgical care in alternative rural environments. These are rich educational and productive operative experiences in all phases of surgical care, including many tertiary cases. These rotations offer one-on-one mentoring with broad-based general surgeons who care for a variety of surgical problems. Housing is provided free of charge during these rotations, and a transportation allowance is available.
General Surgery Resident Documents
Please select a link to download a document:
Program Documents
The Department of Surgery has carried out comprehensive restructuring of the entire working environment over the past decade. The two acute care surgery teams at UL Hospital have been covered by the elective general surgery and critical care fellows two nights per week. There is a day float PGY-1 on the floor and PGY-2 in the ICUs to aid in work completion, as needed. This has allowed the post-call residents to sign out and leave early in the morning. This also has led to increased communication amongst the residents and compliance with the ACGME resident duty hour policy.
This year we have reorganized several rotations and created new surgical oncology and colorectal rotations that are service-based and involve three of the integrated hospitals. Junior residents continue to take in house call at these hospitals, so we do not use a night float system. These rotations have allowed a more focused educational experience, including clinics with these specialty faculty members. This also has decompressed the busy Norton general surgery rotation making it more manageable for the PGY-4 chief. Junior (PGY-1,2,3) residents take in-house call on most all rotations, while senior (PGY-4,5) residents are on call from home except at the level 1 trauma center at UL hospital. Residents often switch call around to fit their personal needs as long as patient care is not compromised.
The required core conferences: Grand Rounds, Quality Improvement, and Residents Clinical and Basic Science Conferences have been moved to Friday morning from 7-10AM. This has led to increased conference attendance by both the residents and faculty, well above the 80% RRC minimum. The QI conference involves traditional presentation of selected patient mortality and morbidities, which also includes a discussion of the basic patho-physiology and clinical characteristics of the disease process being discussed. A pertinent literature review is included, as well. The residents' conference has been restructured to include some didactic material with emphasis on clinical management. Case presentations usually are included and select residents will be called on to advise clinical management to the group.
Internet access is available at all hospitals and dictation systems function by call in from any remote location. The SCORE curriculum has been incorporated with monthly assignment of modules. Completion of the weekly ACS curriculum is also mandatory.
E/M Coding
Conferences
Mandatory conferences include Quality Improvement Conference, Resident Teaching Conference and Grand Rounds, which are held in the Ambulatory Care Building Auditorium Fridays from 7-10am. This is protected time for all residents for didactic learning. Attendance at other conferences will be determined by individual rotations.
Please select a day from below to view conference schedule.
| General Surgery |
Colon and Rectal Surgery Conference |
Surgical ICU Rounds
(Dr. McMasters, Polk, and Staff)
University of Louisville Hospital SICU
7:00 am - 8:00 am
|
(Dr. Galandiuk)
Ambulatory Care Building, 2nd Floor
Polk Conference Room
7:00 am - 8:00 am
|
| Burn Rounds |
|
|
(Dr. Polk and Plastic Surgery)
University of Louisville Hospital
Burn Unit, 8th Floor
8:00 am - 8:30 am
|
|
| Pediatric Surgery Tumor Conference |
Pediatric Surgery Residents' Conference |
(Drs. Fallat, Nagaraj, Bond, and Foley)
Dining Room A/B, Norton Hospital
4th Tuesday of each month
12 (noon) - 1 pm
|
(Drs. Fallat, Nagaraj, Bond, and Foley)
Dining Room A/B, Norton Hospital
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
|
| General Surgery Teaching Rounds |
|
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
4th Floor SICU
8:00 am - 9:00 am
|
|
| Norton Children's Hospital/Dept. Surg. Quality Improvement Conference |
|
(Drs. Fallat, Nagaraj, Bond, and Foley)
Dining Rooms A/B, Norton Hospital
1st Tuesday of the month
12 (noon) - 1pm
|
|
| Trauma Quality Improvement Conference |
Critical Care & Basic Science Surgical Conference |
Residents and Medical Students on Trauma Service at University of Louisville Hospital
Classroom ACB, 7:00 am - 8:00 am
1st Wednesday each month
|
Residents and Medical Students on Trauma Service at University of Louisville Hospital
Classroom ACB, 7:00 am - 8:00 am
2nd & 4th Wednesday each month
|
| Brown Cancer Center Multidisciplinary Tumor Conference |
Vascular Case Conference |
(Dr. Martin)
BCC Mint Jubilee Conference room 7:00am
1st & 3rd Wednesday each month
|
Residents and Medical Students on Trauma Service at University of Louisville Hospital
Ambulatory Care Building Auditorium
7:00 am - 8:00 am
3rd Wednesday each month
|
| Endocrine Tumor Conference |
|
1st Wednesday of each month
Norton Hospital
Dining Room A/B, 2nd Floor
7:00 am - 8:00 am
|
|
| Breast Cancer Conference |
|
JGBCC Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic
Working Conference
4th Floor JGBCC Board Room
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
|
|
| Grand Rounds |
Quality Improvement Conference |
Ambulatory Care Building
Auditorium
7:00 am - 8:00 am
|
Ambulatory Care Building
Auditorium
8:00 am - 9:00 am
|
| Resident Basic and Clinical Teaching Conference |
|
Ambulatory Care Building
Auditorium
9:00 am - 10:00 am
|
|
Where Are They Now (2016-2022)
| 2022
|
| Name
|
Fellowship / Practice
|
City, State
|
| Elizabeth Bruenderman |
MIS/Bariatrics Fellowship at Duke University |
Durham, NC |
| Joshua Clapp |
Private Practice at Baptist Health |
Madisonville, KY |
| Sarah Couch |
Breast Fellowship at Emory University |
Atlanta, GA |
| Adam Hicks |
Vascular Fellowship at Indiana University |
Bloomington, IN |
| Jeff Howard |
Private Practice at Norton Healthcare |
Louisville, KY |
| Nicholas Welko |
Trauma Critical Care Fellowship at Washington University |
St. Louis, MO |
| Amy Wise |
Colorectal Fellowship at University of South Florida |
Tampa, FL |
| 2021
|
| Name
|
Fellowship / Practice
|
City, State
|
| Neal Bhutiani |
Surgical Oncology Fellowship, MD Anderson |
Houston, TX |
| Nathan Bodily |
Private Practice |
Mesa, AZ |
| Gerald Cheadle |
Vascular Fellowship, University of Louisville |
Louisville, KY |
| Brian Clarke |
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship |
Hawaii |
| Timothy Dawson |
Private Practice |
Louisville, KY |
| Mickey Ising |
Thoracic Fellowship, University of Virginia |
Charlottesville, VA |
| William Marshall |
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, University of California San Diego |
San Diego, CA |
| Justin Webb |
Plastic Surgery Fellowship, University of Utah |
Salt Lake City, UT |
| Seth Welborn |
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, East Carolina University |
Greenville, NC |
| 2020
|
| Name
|
Fellowship / Practice
|
City, State
|
| Eric Anderson
|
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, University of Utah
|
Salt Lake City, UT
|
| Beau Bush
|
Vascular Fellowship, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
|
Knoxville, TN
|
| Christopher Murter
|
Vascular Fellowship, Eastern Virginia Medical Center
|
Norfolk, VA
|
| Alexis Nickols
|
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, University of Michigan
|
Ann Arbor, MI
|
| Mark Nicolas
|
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, Indiana University
|
Indianapolis, IN
|
| Ashley Watson
|
Private Practice-GS (Houston, TX)
|
Houston, TX
|
| Micah Whited
|
Thoracic Surgery Fellowship, University of Texas-Dallas
|
Dallas, TX
|
| 2019
|
| Name
|
Fellowship / Practice
|
City, State
|
| Lindsay Arnold |
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship - University of Louisville |
Louisville, KY |
| Emily Bond |
Cardiothoracic Fellowship - University of Minnesota |
Minneapolis, MN |
| Jordan Bond |
Vascular Fellowship - University of Tennessee |
Knoxville, TN |
| Ryan Chen |
Private Practice-GS - (UC Berkeley) |
Folsom, CA |
| Nathan Ludwig |
Private Practice-GS (Waxahachie, TX) |
Waxahachie, TX |
| Natalia Paez |
Surgical Oncology Fellowship - University of Texas M. D. Anderson |
Houston, TX |
| Paul (Tripp) Palmer |
Private Practice-GS (Houston, TX) |
Houston, TX |
| Lela Posey |
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship - University of Washington |
Seattle, WA |
| Erin Schumer |
Cardiothoracic Fellowship - Mayo Clinic |
Rocherster, MN |
| 2018
|
| Name
|
Fellowship / Practice
|
City, State
|
| David Albers |
Private Practice-GS (Houston, TX) |
Houston, TX |
| Samuel Carson |
Colorectal Fellowship - McGovern Medical School |
Louisville, KY |
| Jahongir Muradov |
Private Practice-GS (Owensboro, KY) |
Owensboro, KY |
| Annie Nagengast |
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship - Oregon Health & Science Univ |
Portland, OR |
| Dustin Porter |
Private Practice-GS (Burley, ID) |
Rupert, ID |
| Jessica Raque |
Private Practice-GS (Owensboro, KY) |
Owensboro, KY |
| Jonathan Rice |
Thoracic & Cardiovascular Research - University of Louisville
Thoracic & Cardiovascular Fellowship - Pennsylvania State University
|
Louisville, KY |
| Jessica Weaver |
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship - University of Pennsylvania |
Philadelphia, PA |
| 2017
|
| Name
|
Fellowship / Practice
|
City, State
|
| Dylan Adamson |
Transplant Fellowship - Mt. Sinia Hospital |
Mt.Sinai, NY |
| Jordan Brown |
Private Practice-GS (New Albany, IN) |
New Albany, IN |
| Charles Kimbrough |
Surgical Oncology Fellowship |
Dallas, TX |
| Stephanie Mastrangelo |
Breast Fellowship - Vanderbilt |
Nashville, TN |
| Garrett Mortensen |
ERCP Fellowship - University of Louisville |
Louisville, KY |
| Karen Parks |
Vascular Fellowship - University of Florida |
Gainesville, FL |
| 2016
|
| Name
|
Fellowship / Practice
|
City, State
|
| Valerie Emuakhagbon |
Colon Rectal Fellowship - Unmiversity of South Florida |
Tampa, FL |
| Tathyana Fensterer |
Plastic Surgery Fellowship University of Iowa |
Iowa City, IA |
| Paul Linsky |
Thoracic Surgery Fellowship - University of Alabama - Birmingham |
Birmingham, AL |
| Michael Mackowski |
Private Practice-GS (Green Bay, WI) |
Green Bay, WI |
| John Maijub |
Vascular Surgery Fellowship - Washington University |
St. Louis, MO |
| Swope Munday |
Private Practice-GS (Danville, KY) |
Danville, KY |
| Danielle Patterson |
Private Practice-GS (Louisville, KY) |
Louisville, KY |
| Benjamin Stahl |
Private Practice-GS (Novato, CA) |
Greenbrae, CA |
