General Surgery Residency

Program aims:

1. Train residents on evidence-based surgical practice
2. Train residents to be curious and passionate in care of their patients
3. Train residents in all six domains of ACGME core competencies
4. Train residents in all aspects of general surgery to include endoscopic, minimally invasive (both laparoscopic and robotic) ,and open surgeries
5. Residents will achieve greater than 50the percentile score for their respective PGY year on the yearly ABSITE examination
6. Residents will engage in two research projects (one case report and another of larger scope – where IRB protocol writing is required) as primary author/investigator at minimum
7. First time passing rate of 100% on both written and oral board examinations are expected
8. 100% match rate for fellowship, if desired
9. Continue culture of “family atmosphere” while expecting accountability and professionalism

Diverse exposure: Residents experience a breadth of surgical experience while rotating at the following four institutions located within a five-mile radius.

• Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Butterworth Hospital is a tertiary care facility and Level 1 Trauma Center with over 500 beds and draws patients from a large region of over one million people. It provides a full continuum of elective and acute patient care for adults and pediatrics in all specialties. Due to the high volume and complicated cases encountered in the trauma service, residents learn how to care for complex patients and utilize innovative techniques including, but not limited to, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) and rib fixation surgery.

• Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Helen DeVos Children's Hospital represents more than four decades of steady progress in improving pediatric care and bringing pediatric specialists to the region. There are more than 300 pediatric physicians in more than 50 pediatric services and programs.

• Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Blodgett Hospital has a long tradition of providing high-quality, compassionate, personalized medical care. Since 1846, Blodgett Hospital has earned a reputation for excellence as a community and teaching hospital. We provide patient-focused inpatient and outpatient services for medical, surgical, and specialty care. It is a Level III trauma center. Minimally invasive surgery and the colon and rectal surgery fellowship programs are located there.

• Trinity Health Grand Rapids is an integrated network of healthcare excellence. Their commitment to offering the latest technology and skilled physicians in a holistic, patient-centered environment has made them a progressive leader in cancer care, neuroscience, orthopedics, diabetes and endocrine care, kidney transplants, and integrative health care.

Educational excellence: Commitment to education in a stimulating training environment contributes to the success of the program.

High-quality research: Residents are required to submit two scholarly/research projects over the course of their five-year training. Excellent support is provided through an abundance of resources for these endeavors. There is a monthly Research Conference attended by residents and surgical teaching faculty to provide helpful didactics in surgical research and design as well as opportunities for collaborative feedback on their research ideas and projects. Additional basic science research exposure is available at the Van Andel Research Institute, a world-class facility adjacent to the downtown Butterworth Hospital. For residents interested in competitive fellowships, the general surgery residency program offers an opportunity to participate in a research year. Furthermore, the Michigan State Secchia Center is located on the Medical Mile within walking distance to the Butterworth campus.