Letter from the Residency Program Director

Thank you for your interest in the Surgical Residency Program at University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).  We have a fully accredited five-year academic residency in General Surgery. Last inspected in spring 2007, our program again received full ACGME accreditation. The hallmarks of our residency are extensive clinical experience, exciting research possibilities, and renowned faculty.

Founded in 1823 as the Baltimore Infirmary, UMMC is a 689-bed tertiary-quaternary facility in the history-rich city of Baltimore, Maryland. Annually, there are 32,000 inpatient and 300,000 outpatient visits, and 7,500 trauma admissions.

We accept five applicants into the Categorical Surgery Program each year. We also accept six applicants into the Preliminary Program at the PGY-1 level and three applicants in the second year Preliminary Program. In addition, we have a number of designated preliminary residents from NSU, ENT, OMFS, GU, and ORS. The only visa application we will sponsor is a J-1 visa. We cannot sponsor those applicants who wish to pursue an H1/4-B application. 

The General Surgery program is six or seven years in length as approved by the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education and the American Board of Surgery. The program includes five clinical years and an obligatory research experience between the clinical 2nd and 3rd years. During research time, residents are free from all clinical responsibilities. Attendance at local meetings and departmental CME courses is encouraged. Residents who have oral presentations accepted at national meetings often are able to attend the meeting at departmental expense. Weekly research conferences are held, as are a number of teaching conferences, including a resident basic science conference, surgical grand rounds and M&M. There are also individual service conferences. From 6:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday mornings, residents are extended protected educational time, free from clinical duties.

Experience in preoperative, operative and postoperative care for patients in all areas that constitute the principle components of general surgery is provided by the rotations.

A broad-based core experience in general surgery and selected surgical subspecialties is offered during the first two years. Cognitive and technical skill development is emphasized. Residents are expected to be completely involved in patient care, acquiring increasing responsibility that includes surgical procedures, with increasing activity throughout the various levels of the training program.

Both inpatient and outpatient experiences exist on each service.

Residents are encouraged to develop their teaching abilities, particularly through teaching junior residents and medical students. Residents present at M&M conferences, and chief residents give annual Grand Rounds presentations. 

Internship applications are accepted only through ERAS, the Electronic Residency Application Service. A current CV, a personal statement and three letters of recommendation, which must be current and written from U.S. or Canadian surgeons, must accompany the application. All IMGs must posses an appropriate J1 Visa for entry into our residency training program as well as a valid ECFMG certificate, including the CSA.

Our residents receive an academically sound education from world-class, internationally eminent faculty in general surgery, surgical oncology, trauma, transplant surgery, and cardiac surgery. One way our program’s achievements are evidenced can be seen in how well our residents match into fellowships. The residents, faculty, associate residency program director Stephen Kavic, M.D., and I are proud of the strength our program and its participants. We appreciate your interest.

Sincerely,

Patricia L. Turner, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Residency Program Director

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