The bulk of your residency time is spent on the four general surgery services at Morristown Medical Center, where vascular and endovascular, general, laparoscopic, oncologic, plastic, pediatric, thoracic, and urologic surgery are all practiced. You also spend four weeks of rotation at University Hospital in Newark on the liver transplant and hepatic surgery service. In addition, we provide rotation opportunities through some of the local major private practice offices, along with a pediatric surgery rotation and an elective period.
We provide a rich surgical training experience for residents in the preliminary track. Those who have entered the fields of ophthalmology, anesthesiology, radiology, as well as residents destined for careers in urology, orthopedics and otolaryngology. may spend one or two years in this track.
Our robust teaching program includes weekly audit and grand rounds, chapter review and basic science, and a clinical conference. Monthly, there are Chief's Rounds, Journal Club, and multiple other hospital-wide conferences, like the Tumor Board, that are open to your attendance. Research is actively encouraged within the residency, with over half of the completing chiefs having published papers or abstracts, and/or presented at regional or national meetings. Many of our faculty members have active research projects. We hold monthly research, professional and leadership development committees.
Teaching Conferences
Surgical teaching conferences are dedicated to your education and are provided each week in addition to monthly clinical conferences in oncology, gastroenterology and vascular disease.
- Vascular Conference:
- Monthly Vascular Surgery Conference dedicated to discussion, diagnosis and indications for therapy and new endovascular procedures.
- Trauma/Critical Care Conference:
- Daily morning report is held with the Trauma and Critical Care attendings and staff as well as a weekly Critical Care lecture series, which are dedicated to discussion, diagnosis and indications.
- Surgical Basic Science Text Review:
- We have dedicated Friday morning didactic text review. Faculty members are drawn from the Medical Staff at Morristown Medical with occasional outside speakers. These lectures are integrated into a text review.
- Surgical Basic Science Text Review:
- Friday morning didactic text and ABSITE review with both resident and faculty member presentations from across the Medical Staff at Morristown Medical.
- Journal Club:
- Monthly discussion led by residents, attendings, or the program director focused on landmark papers in general surgery or pertinent studies to know.
- Surgical Audit and Surgical Grand Rounds:
- Morbidity and Mortality Conference, or surgical audit, held prior to the surgical grand rounds on Wednesday mornings. Surgical residents generate a dialogue with attending surgeons concerning the outcome of the surgical procedures. These conferences are often coupled with a formal presentation on a timely topic or a lecture from an outside speaker. Our roster of outside speakers includes nationally and internationally known surgeons of unparalleled quality. Quarterly multi-disciplinary rounds occur with participation from other specialties in the hospital.
- Outpatient Experience:
- Weekly surgical clinic run by the residents, and during office hours in the attending surgeon's private practice. A vast opportunity is offered in the four areas of patient care: patient evaluation, therapeutic decisions, operative experience and postoperative management. The residents also manage a minor surgical excision clinic and a month's experience in endoscopy is gained in the GI suite. Consistent exposure to ambulatory cases and the office experience prepares one for the operational realities of office practice.
General Surgery Residency Overview
Rotations
We've arranged our rotations so that you are afforded early exposure to the specialties, while maintaining an ongoing progression in General Surgery. By the end of your third year, you are fully prepared to perform surgery with assurance and safety.
| PGY-I | |
| Rotation | Months |
| General Surgery | 6 |
| Surgical Oncology | 2 |
| Vascular | 2 |
| Nights | 2 |
| PGY-II | |
| Rotation | Months |
| General Surgery | 4 |
| Thoracic Surgery | 2 |
| Trauma | 2 |
| ICU | 2 |
| Night Float (ICU) | 2 |
| PGY-III | |
| Rotation | Months |
| General Surgery | 5 |
| Pediatric Surgery | 2 |
| Transplant (NJ Medical School) | 1 |
| Night Float | 2 |
| Vascular | 2 |
| PGY-IV | |
| Rotation | Months |
| General Surgery | 5 |
| Elective | 1 |
| Night Float | 2 |
| Vascular | 2 |
| Surgical Oncology | 2 |
| PGY-V | |
| Rotation | Months |
| General Surgery Chief Resident | 4 |
| Endoscopy/Outpatient | 2 |
| Night Float | 2 |
| Vascular | 2 |
| Surgical Oncology | 2 |
In addition, we rotate at Overlook Medical Center for two months throughout our first through fourth years.
Awards and Accreditations
