WELCOME to the information page for the General Surgery Residency Program at the University of Vermont/Fletcher Allen Health Care.

The General Surgery program is six years in length approved by the Council on Graduate Medical Education of the AMA and the American Board of Surgery. This includes five clinical years and an obligatory research year between the clinical G2 and G3 years. Residents are free from all clinical responsibilities during the research year. Attendance at local meetings and departmental CME courses is encouraged. Residents who have had abstracts accepted at national meetings may attend the meeting at departmental expense. Research conferences are held weekly, as are several teaching conferences including a resident basic science conference, surgical grand rounds, and quality assurance. Individual service conferences are held as well.

Although the residency program is small, the individual surgical exposure is varied and substantial to prepare for careers in general surgery/academic surgery/fellowship training in a further surgical discipline. Recent graduates have obtained postgraduate fellowships in pediatric surgery, trauma/critical care, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. The majority of the resident graduates in the past ten years have entered full-time academic surgery. We pride ourselves on the one-on-one interaction between resident and attending.

The eight positions at the G1 level are comprised of three categorical surgery positions, one otolaryngology prerequisite, one neurological surgery prerequisite, and three preliminary positions. Five positions at the G2 level are comprised of three categorical positions and two preliminary positions. Positions at the G3 through G5 level are categorical positions, three at each level.

The majority of rotations are designed to provide experience in preoperative, operative, and postoperative care for patients in all areas that constitute the principle components of general surgery. The rotations are divided into various teams. Each team is under the direction of an attending physician who is responsible for overseeing that the educational objectives for the residents are met.

The first two years are designed to provide a broadly-based core experience in both general surgery and selected surgical subspecialties. Emphasis is on the development of cognitive and technical skills. Residents are expected to be fully involved in the care process with increasing responsibility for patient care, including operations, with increasing activity throughout the various levels of the training program.

Inpatient and outpatient experiences are merged on each service. Each team has a non operative day during which time the residents are expected to be in the clinical offices evaluating new patients and seeing postoperative patients.

Residents are encouraged to develop their responsibilities as teachers and are responsible for teaching junior residents and medical students. Residents are expected to present at weekly quality assurance meetings and chief residents give at least one Grand Rounds presentation per year.

The faculty is comprised of 60 full-time faculty (Board Certified) and 5 local part-time faculty (Board Certified).

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 IMG’s must posses an appropriate J1 Visa for entry into our residency training program as well as a valid ECFMG certificate including the CSA.

The deadline for completed applications is October 31, 2007.

Final selection for interview is made by the Residency Candidate Review Committee. At interview, candidates will meet Dr. David McFadden, the Chair of the Department and residents at all levels, and interview with other members of the faculty and me.

Our residency Program Coordinator is Diantha Langmaid, (802) 847-2566, and our Student Coordinator is Brenda Barr, (802) 847-3667. Any questions may be directed to them.

Kennith H. Sartorelli, M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics
Sections of Pediatric Surgery & Trauma and Surgical Critical Care
Residency Program Director