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General Surgery Residency Curriculum

Curriculum 
 
Overall Education Goals

The goal of the General Surgery Residency Program at UT Tyler Health Science Center is to develop well-rounded, competent, and compassionate surgeons who are equipped to provide high-quality, patient-centered care in both rural and urban settings. The program is dedicated to delivering a comprehensive and rigorous surgical education that emphasizes the mastery of clinical skills, surgical techniques, and medical knowledge, while fostering critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and lifelong learning. 

Through a combination of hands-on operative experience, academic learning, and research opportunities, residents are trained to address a wide range of surgical conditions, with a particular focus on the unique health challenges of the East Texas Community. The program encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, leadership development, and the pursuit of excellence in all areas of patient care, preparing graduates to succeed in a variety of surgical environments, including general surgery, subspecialty training, and rural surgery. 

Ultimately, the program aims to produce surgeons who will not only meet the highest standards of professional and technical expertise but also contribute to the improvement of healthcare access and outcomes in underserved populations. 

Surgical Education Curricular Activities

Didactics: Residents engage in weekly didactic sessions covering both basic and advanced surgical science, utilizing the SCORE (Surgical Council on Resident Education) curriculum. This structured learning approach ensures comprehensive knowledge of essential topics in general surgery. 
 
Mortality and Morbidity (M&M): Held on a weekly basis, the M&M conference is a cornerstone of surgical education. Residents and faculty review clinical cases with complications or unexpected outcomes to analyze decision-making processes, identify areas for improvement, and reinforce the importance of patient safety and quality care. 

Grand Rounds:

  • Institutional Grand Rounds: Held weekly, these sessions bring together the entire institution to discuss diverse and current medical topics, often featuring guest speakers or cross-disciplinary discussions.
  • Program-Specific Grand Rounds: Held monthly within the surgery program, these meetings focus on topics directly related to the surgical field, with presentations by residents, faculty, and occasionally external experts. 

Journal Club: A monthly gathering held at an outside venue over dinner. Residents and faculty review and critically appraise recent, impactful articles from surgical literature, discussing the relevance and application to clinical practice. 

Simulation Lab: The simulation lab offers hands-on practice in a controlled environment, providing weekly sessions to refine surgical skills. PGY1 residents also participate in the SIMSEI surgical curriculum on a monthly basis, a specialized program designed to accelerate early technical skill development and clinical decision-making. 

Program Director Conference: This is held bi-weekly for the chief residents to prepare for boards. 

These activities aim to provide a balanced and rigorous surgical education that prepares residents for both academic and clinical excellence. 

Rotations

PGY1 - Trauma ICU, Acute Care Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Vascular & General Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Breast Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery. 

PGY2 - Trauma ICU, Acute Care Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Vascular & General Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Transplant Surgery, Thoracic Surgery.

PGY3 - Trauma ICU, Acute Care Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Vascular & General Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Breast Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery, Endoscopy, Burns.

PGY4- Trauma ICU, Acute Care Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Vascular & General Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Elective. 
 
PGY5- The Chief year can be tailored to the resident's future practice/fellowship goals. Trauma ICU, Acute Care Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Vascular & General Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery.