How to choose a general surgery residency
How to choose a general surgery residency
Medical students often find it difficult to create their rank list for residency programs, including those for general surgery. UCSF medical students, and others across the country deal with this issue every year.
Students often have very little information to go on before choosing a residency program (i.e. ranking a program #1, 2 or 3 on their rank list.) Just like the practice of medicine, students are expected to make critical decisions with very little information.
In deciding between residency programs, students often ask themselves this list of questions:
- Is the program a solid program?
- Is it well respected?
- Is it known for being a malignant program?
- What is the quality of the residents?
- What is the quality of the faculty?
- Do they have strong research funding? (If you’re interested in research or fellowship)
- What is the complexity of the cases they perform : an academic program will have more complex cases than a community program
- Will I be comfortable operating after I graduate or will I need to seek additional training?
- Do they have faculty members that are leaders in the surgical subspecialties? For example, leaders in Vascular, Cardiothoracic, Transplant, Plastics, Surgical Oncology, Minimally Invasive, etc.
- Do they have a tradition of excellence?
- Early exposure to cases and time in the operating room
- Autonomy in the operating room
- What will my quality of life be?
- Would I enjoy living in the city?
- Will I enjoy the weather? Can I tolerate it?
The above is really just a short list of the many questions that go through the minds of residents as they prioritize their rank list for residency.
My advice would be to go where you would be supported, and where there is a culture that is in sync with your priorities and values.
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