General Surgery Residency Program

The general surgery residency program is structured to educate qualified and highly motivated individuals into superior clinical and academic surgeons. The residency is a five-year program fully accredited by the Surgery Residency Review Committee. It is approved to graduate eight chief residents each year.

Eight PGY-1 residents are accepted into the categorical general surgery program each year, providing a non-pyramidal structure to the program. Residents achieve clinical proficiency through graduated responsibility commensurate with their abilities and levels of training during five years of clinical experience. Our residents are strongly encouraged to participate in scholarly research as well as in the surgical care of patients.

Subspecialty Rotations

To expand their understanding of surgical management in the treatment of various diseases, general surgery PGY-1 categorical and preliminary residents rotate through several subspecialties. 

Rotations may include pediatric surgery, transplantation, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, urology, plastic surgery, vascular and endovascular surgery, trauma and surgical critical care, colon and rectal surgery, endocrine surgery, gastrointestinal and minimally invasive surgery, and surgical oncology. (Senior residents rotating in pediatric or cardiothoracic surgery gain more comprehensive experience in those principal areas of general surgery.)

Rotation Locations

Residents rotate through the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and St. Claire Regional Medical Center. This provides residents a broad and extensive surgical experience. The hybrid operating rooms at the UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital are state-of-the-art and remain busy, providing residents with excellent opportunities to observe, engage, and improve their skills as surgeons. We are proud of our programs and are committed to providing our residents with the guidance and experience to develop into outstanding surgeons. Graduates of the program consistently perform well on the American Board of Surgery’s qualifying and certification examinations.

In-Depth Training and Research Experience

The faculty members within each section have particular interests and expertise, allowing residents to obtain in-depth training.

General surgery residents are encouraged to pursue academic interests and contribute to the surgical literature during their training. The opportunity to perform basic research is available to residents for one or two years after the third year of clinical training and is encouraged for those residents wishing to pursue academic surgical careers. This research experience may be obtained in one of the many funded laboratories at the University or at another facility.

The resident in general surgery is expected to maintain the highest level of quality patient care, professional demeanor, and personal integrity. The resident is expected to be both a student and a teacher: a student of the art and science of surgery and a teacher of fellow residents, colleagues, medical students, and nurses.

Program Leadership