The First Year Emphasizes the Physiologic and Metabolic

During the first (PGY 1) year, exposure is provided to all aspects of pre and postoperative care with emphasis on the physiologic and metabolic problems that occur in all surgical patients. Operative experience is acquired through presence in the operating room assisting and performing surgical procedures. There is also extensive experience in the placement and use of invasive monitoring devices. Rotations in the PGY 1 include Acute Care Surgery, Intensive Care Unit, Plastic Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Anesthesia, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Neurosurgery, Head and Neck Surgery, and Burns. These experiences will occur primarily at the University of South Alabama Medical Center (USAMC), a tertiary care hospital with a Level 1 Trauma Service, Burn Unit and the University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital (CWH). During the PGY 1, residents will complete a self-directed, simulation based program in the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS).

The Second Year Focuses on Acute Care and Community Settings

In the second (PGY 2) year, in addition to rotations on the Acute Care Surgery Service at the USAMC, residents obtain exposure to surgery in the rural and community settings. The Rural Surgery rotation is based at Thomas Hospital located 45 minutes from Mobile . The hospital is located in Baldwin County , a medically underserved area in Alabama . The Community Surgery rotation is based at the Mobile Infirmary Medical Center (MIMC), a large private hospital located 10 minutes from the main University of South Alabama Medical Center. During these rotations, residents will get extensive operating room exposure assisting and performing surgical procedures and experience caring for patients outside of a University based, tertiary care setting.

Increased Responsibility in the Third Year

In the third (PGY 3) year, the resident will again rotate onto the USAMC’s Acute Care Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery and the CWH’s Pediatric Surgery Service where the resident will have increased responsibilities both in patient care and in the operating room. In addition to these experiences, the resident will obtain additional community surgery experience at the Infirmary West Hospital , a small community hospital 20 minutes from the USAMC. During this year, residents will go to the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Biloxi MS , the only “away” rotation in the University of South Alabama Graduate Program in Surgery. Residents will be provided housing and food while at the VAMC, and will obtain experience in the treatment of patients in a managed care setting. In addition to patient care and operating room experience, the resident will obtain an extensive experience in flexible endoscopy.

Patient Care and Operating Room Experience Mark the Fourth Year

The fourth (PGY 4) year will include senior level rotations in Rural and Community Surgery at Thomas Hospital and the MIMC. The emphasis during these rotations is on patient care and operating room experience. The PGY 4 experience will also include senior level rotations on the USAMC’s Acute Care Surgery service and Intensive Care Unit where the resident will have advanced responsibilities including the supervision of the junior residents on these services. At the end of the PGY 4 year, residents will be expected to have met both the case number and defined category requirements for certification by the American Board of Surgery.

Year Five Emphasizes Health Care Team Leadership

In the fifth (PGY 5) or Chief year, residents will again rotate to the USAMC’s Acute Care Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery and the CWH’s Pediatric Surgery Service where the resident will obtain experience as the leader of a complete health care team including junior residents, nurse practitioners, medical students, and other personnel in addition to obtaining additional experience in patient care and in the operating room. In the Chief year, residents will obtain extensive experience in administration being responsible for work and vacation schedules for the other residents, and in organizing resident educational activities.

We are Committed to Provide Core Competency

The University of South Alabama Graduate Program in Surgery is committed to providing educational experiences and objective documentation of proficiency in the 6 core competencies of resident education; medical knowledge, patient care, communication skill, professionalism, practice based learning and systems based practice. Currently a simulation-based curriculum to teach and objectively assess the medical knowledge, patient care including surgical skills, communication and professionalism competencies is being developed. This is expected to be fully implemented by 2009. Resident progress in the core competencies will be evaluated quarterly by the faculty with feedback given to the resident. Remediation programs are available for residents who are having difficulty with any of the core competencies.