If you’re interested in becoming a general surgeon, and you desperately want to prepare yourself for the next Match Season, then check out the top 20 general surgery residency programs in US below.
Now, we all now that becoming a surgeon takes a lot of time, effort and nerves. Not to mention the hard work and dedication. The required education for surgeons is four years of undergraduate school in order to earn a bachelor’s degree in physical sciences (preferably). After two more years of foundational medical courses in medical school, come two years of clinical clerkship. Only after obtaining Medical Doctor (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degrees, one can continue a medical training in residency and fellowship programs (3-7 years). The length of residency depends on the chosen field (in surgery). Whichever surgery residency program you choose to attend you will receive similar training in the first two years. What is typical for general surgeons is that they are the surgical equivalent of family practitioners. Their practice and knowledge differ from other surgical specialties — let’s say, neurosurgery, where a trainee is focused on learning how to perform operation procedures concerning only the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, etc.).
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In the last three years of their residency period, trainees have specific training in particular regions of the body. In special circumstances, general surgeons can perform procedures that are not in their field of specialty. In the U.S. there are roughly 700,000 physicians licensed to practice medicine and surgery. It is estimated that fewer than 5% of these surgeons limit their practices to general surgery. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2017 there were 38,600 surgeons in the country, working for a mean annual wage of $251,890.
So, since you are reading this article, we are presuming you have already finished medical school. That’s why we wanted to give you a broader picture when it comes to the residency programs. The great start is our article on 10 best surgical residency programs in the US. Then you can read about top 10 emergency medicine residency programs and top 10 OBGYN residency programs in America. One of the best-paying medical specialties is, without doubt, neurosurgery, and we strongly suggest you read our article on 10 best neurosurgery residency programs in America. And then there are top pathology residency programs as well as top internal medicine residency programs which we, unfortunately, haven’t covered yet, but just in case… Stay tuned! Moreover, we all know that there’s a large rural population served by small hospitals in the country, especially in Midwestern states. In these areas, the need for surgeons who desire to practice (and live) there is great. So, if you’re one of them do check out some of the community general surgery residency programs in the country. However, in case you are more into studying and working abroad, we suggest you reconsider some of the best surgical residency programs in the world listed by Scholarship Positions.
Before we get to our list of top 20 general surgery residency programs in US, we should briefly explain the methodology used (it’s quite similar to the one used for the list of top 12 surgery residency programs in 2018). So, we consulted the U. S. News, Research Gate, and Doximity. There you can check out the general surgery residency rankings for the year 2016 and 2017 as well. Then we singled out the top general surgery residencies according to their popularity, research activities, tuition, number of clinical and research residents as well as the number of positions and reputation. We overlapped the results and finally come up with genuine Insider Monkey general surgery residency (2018) rankings.
Now, shall we start the countdown?
20. Emory University, School of Medicine
We are starting off with the general surgery residency of the Department of Surgery of the Emory University School of Medicine. You can apply for a five-year general surgery training program or do a research in high-profile research labs. Emory is the only research-oriented medical center in Atlanta. There you will have access to seven distinct training facilities with a huge patient population.
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19. The University of Florida, College of Medicine
In the University of Florida College of Medicine, you can attend a five-year general surgery residency program training that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. After two years of general surgery training, you can choose to gain experience and training in basic sciences and do some research. All residents are required to be involved in the research project and present and publish at least one paper.
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18. The University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine
Penn surgical program offers the operative experience in training from a rotation in the principal components of general surgery. 80% of the surgical training occurs at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. There is also extensive exposure to the surgical specialties. The residency lasts for 5-6 years. After the third clinical year, surgical trainees participate in 2-3 years of research.
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17. The University of California (San Francisco)
Up next on our list of top 20 general surgery residency programs in US is the UCSF general surgery residency program with an average of 40 positions in the first year of which 17 are reserved for general surgery. As for clinical residents — here is a vast variety of hospitals and medical centers where they are allowed to take care of patients. Research activities may begin after the third clinical year and last for 2-3 years.
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16. Madigan Healthcare System
Madigan Healthcare System is a branch of United States Army Hospitals founded in 1944. This network of Army medical facilities provides a wide array of medical services, such as general medical and surgical care.
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15. The University of Virginia Medical Center, Department of Surgery
UVA offers a five-year general surgery residency program with five resident places. During those five years, residents gain knowledge in critical care and develop surgery skills. Also, attendants get clinical and dedicated research experience.
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14. The University of Cincinnati Medical Center, College of Medicine
In the 2018-2019 academic year, the general surgery residency program at the University of Cincinnati is offering six categorical positions. It’s a five–year program and you can apply if your USMLE Step I score is at least 220.
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13. Duke University Hospital, Department of Surgery
Up next on our list of top 20 general surgery residency programs in US is Duke with five-year clinical rotation for general surgery residents. Duke also focuses on research to prepare trainees in academic surgery careers. General surgery residents have to complete at least two years in research.
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12. University of Texas Southwestern, Medical School
The UT offers to new attendants a general surgery residency program with 13 approved categorical positions. Rotations through this five–year residency program include general surgery services, surgical specialty services, and trauma services. After the third year, trainees may conduct investigative work in a laboratory.
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11. Stanford Health Care-Sponsored, Stanford University
As one of the most famous academic centers in a country, Stanford had to take a place on our list of top 20 general surgery residency programs in US. The general surgery residency program at Stanford offers 7 categorical positions with two categorical tracks. There are also several fellowship opportunities like surgical critical care fellowship.
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10. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester)
We are halfway through our list of top 20 general surgery residency programs in US, and next in line we have the five–year general surgery residency at Mayo Clinic where the training is based on minimally invasive surgical techniques. Four categorical residencies are opened each year, and since 1995, 50 residents have finished their specialties.
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9. Washington University / B-JH / SLCH Consortium
Washington University offers eight categorical residents for the general surgery each year. They also got several preliminary positions. There you have the opportunity to upgrade your clinical and research techniques. Between their PGY2 and PGY3 years, residents can earn degrees such as master of population health sciences degree or master of business administration degree.
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8. The University of Washington, Department of Surgery
The University of Washington’s Department of Surgery has trained hundreds of surgeons since 1947. Their goal is to produce surgeons that have the leadership, technical skills and professional standards necessary for a successful career in academic surgery. Attendants have the opportunity for clinical and basic science research. You can apply for a five-year Clinical Track categorical position, seven-year Research Track categorical position, as well as for 1-2-year preliminary positions.
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7. UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center
The UCLA Department of Surgery offers a five-year residency program for general surgeons.
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6. McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University
McGaw Medical Center offers a unique kaizen “the relentless quest for better quality” approach to all general surgery residents. All residents go through the Resident as Teacher program in their second and fourth year of training.
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5. Brigham and Women’s Hospital
BWH offers a five-year ACGME accredited general surgery residency program for 9 categorical residents each year. It’s a very good opportunity for students as they complete 1,100 surgeries on average upon the end of the fifth year. 95% of graduate residents choose academic careers, starting as assistant professors.
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4. Vanderbilt University, Medical Center
At Vanderbilt University there are around 800 applications each year and they match only 8. Most of them pursue fellowship training.
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And now let’s see the top 3 general surgery residencies in US.
3. University of Michigan, Hospitals and Health Centers
Here you will experience 3 years of junior clinical training, 2 years for academic development and scientific research, after which you spend 2 years on senior resident clinical training. In your fifth year, you become a chief of all services with your own team in delivering clinical care.
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2. John Hopkins University
At John Hopkins University each year seven residents are chosen for the general surgery residency program. The program lasts for five years after which individuals are eligible to apply for any number of subspecialties.
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And the number one on our list of top 20 general surgery residency programs in US is…
1. Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital’s general surgery residency program includes five clinical years where residents experience more than 1,000 cases. This institution is one of the world’s leaders when it comes to the medical simulation, so that’s one more reason why it took first place on our list.
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We’re hoping this list of top 20 general surgery residency programs in US will come handy when the time comes to choose the general surgery residency that suits you best.
