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A Broad Based Educational Experience
The University of South Alabama Department of Surgery sponsors
a residency in Surgery leading to the opportunity to become
certified by the American Board of Surgery. This five-year
program, based at the University of South Alabama Hospitals
exposes the Surgical Housestaff to all of the specialties
and subspecialties of Surgery. In order to enhance the experience
of its own Housestaff and those of other graduate Surgery
programs at other Medical Schools in the region, exchange
rotations have been established. We wish to provide sound
training in the basic skills of general surgery for all designated
and non-designated preliminary residents.
Four Positions Annually
The USA Department of Surgery Residency Program accepts four
categorical C-19 interns annually who will go on to finish
as chief residents after five years of clinical service(designated
and non-designated). Designated positions require a letter
or copy of the match agreement from the applicant's residency
program and should be submitted through ERAS after the MATCH.
Educational Goals
As a university-based residency program, we believe it is
an important part of our mission to train residents who will
ultimately discover new knowledge that will improve the care
of patients. As such, we wish to provide opportunities for
scholarly work in clinical, behavioral and basic research
for all surgical residents. To promote the development of
the Surgical Housestaff interested in an academic career,
flexible programs for a rewarding research experience are
established either at an extramural site or in concert with
the Basic Science faculty or Medical faculty at the University
of South Alabama.
The entire faculty continually strives to incorporate innovative
clinical, educational, scientific, and administrative concepts
and techniques to improve the educational experience. We want
our department to manage educational programs that as faculty
we are proud of and committed to, where all interested faculty
and related staff have an opportunity to contribute and grow
as teachers, mentors, learners, educators, researchers and
administrators. We want our faculty, education staff, and
learners to feel respected, treated fairly, listened to, and
accountable for the quality of the educational programs.
Our aim is to provide a positive and supportive learning climate
where individuals, regardless of level, are properly challenged
to achieve their maximum potential personally and professionally.
Above all, we want satisfaction from the accomplishments of
our learners, as well as the full time and voluntary faculty.
Surgical Residency Objectives
Education of the next generation of surgeons is accomplished
best through a multifaceted approach of simulation, didactic
opportunities, discussion, hands on experiences and frequent
feedback.
We believe that the six core competencies described by the
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education are at
the heart of our teaching and that the practitioners who graduate
from this training program should be trained to embrace these
competencies as core values in surgery. They are:
Patient Care
Our graduates will demonstrate knowledge of the field of general
surgery and technical ability to provide care that is appropriate
and effective. Our graduates will be advocates for the promotion
of good health and preventive care. In addition, our graduates
will be trained to understand the human as well as the scientific
aspects of medicine and exhibit compassion for their patients
and the families of their patients. They will invest time
explaining the plan of care and its possible consequences.
Medical Knowledge
Our graduates will demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning
and to studying evolving information in the biomedical, clinical,
epidemiological and social-behavioral sciences and the application
of this knowledge to patient care.
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
Our graduates are trained to investigate and evaluate the
results of their own practice of medicine, incorporating new
scientific evidence and improvements in patient care into
their practice as appropriate. They are willing to seek the
assistance of their colleagues when necessary to remedy deficiencies
in their practice outcomes.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Our graduates are trained in effective and respectful information
exchange with patients and their families and in productive
courteous relationships with other health professionals.
Professionalism
Our graduates are committed to carrying out their responsibilities
to their patients as their highest priority. They are taught
to be respectful of the diverse characteristics and cultures
of their patients. As professionals, they adhere to ethical
principles above all else. At all times, they are expected
to conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen first, physicians
second and surgeons third.
Systems-Based Practice
Our residents are taught to be aware of the larger context
and system of health care and in effectively using system
resources to provide care that is of optimal value. We plan
our program around clinical rotations, research and educational
opportunities in order to achieve appropriate skills in these
competencies.
Clinical Rotations
Our residents will receive exposure to the preoperative, operative,
and postoperative care for patients in the principal components
of general surgery: specifically, diseases of the head and
neck, breast, skin and soft tissues, alimentary tract, hepatobiliary
system, vascular system, endocrine system, the comprehensive
management of trauma and emergency operations, and surgical
critical care. In addition, we will provide clinical experience
in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery,
Burn Management, Surgical Endoscopy, Urology,
Otorhinolaryngology, Gynecology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics,
and Anesthesiology.
On all clinical rotations, the care of patients is ultimately
the responsibility of the attending surgeon. Nevertheless,
responsibilities for patient care will be assigned to residents
at the discretion of the attending surgeon. The resident physician
plays a pivotal role at every level of surgical care. Progressive
responsibility with each year of surgical training is provided,
as experience is gained in surgical decision making. For residents
in the junior years of the residency, such responsibilities
may include observation of the preoperative treatment planning,
participation in straightforward operations, monitoring of
patient condition following surgery, participation in critical
care procedures, arrangement for discharge, and participating
in preoperative preparation and postoperative care in the
attending surgeon’s office. For residents in the senior
year, responsibilities will include formulating a preoperative
plan of care for approval by the attending surgeon, participating
in complex operations, monitoring of patient condition following
surgery, ordering appropriate tests, making recommendations
for change in postoperative treatment as indicated, and participating
in follow-up care in the attending surgeon’s office.
Educational Conferences
The goal of the educational conferences of the general surgery
residency is to provide the opportunity for residents to learn
in depth the fundamentals of basic and applied sciences as
applied to clinical surgery. These include but are not limited
to the elements of wound healing, hemostasis, hematologic
disorders, oncology, shock, circulatory physiology, surgical
microbiology, respiratory physiology, gastrointestinal physiology,
genitourinary physiology, surgical endocrinology, surgical
nutrition, fluid and electrolyte balance, metabolic response
to injury including burns, musculoskeletal biomechanics and
physiology, immunobiology, applied surgical
anatomy, surgical pathology and image interpretation.
Core conferences of the Department include
Morning Report, Basic Science Conference, Critical Care Rounds,
Morbidity and Mortality Conference, Clinical Science Conference,
Oncology Conference and Surgical Grand Rounds, all of which
meet weekly.
The Clinical Science Conference includes
coverage of the Surgical Curriculum. It also includes important
practice topics such as Principles of Coding in Surgery, Risk
Management, Ethical Issues, Legal Issues, Professional Liability,
End-or-Life Issues, Delivering Bad News, Basic Business Finances,
Managing a Practice, Basics of Contract Negotiations, Managing
Employees, Hospital Bylaws and Committee Structure and Anger
Management.
In addition, there are bimonthly special educational events
which include the ABSITE examination, practice ABSITE exams,
Mock Oral Exams, Surgical Technique Exams, Dissection Labs
and Laparoscopy and Endoscopy courses.
Yearly events include the Emmett B. Frazier Lectureship,
the American College of Surgeons Alabama Chapter meeting and
multiple guest speakers.
Research
Residents are strongly encouraged to engage in independent
research during their residency. For those interested in basic
research, two years of dedicated time is recommended. Basic
research should be performed under the mentorship of accomplished
investigators with a track record of extramural funding and
known mentorship abilities. Research in clinical outcomes,
education, health services, and other areas is compatible
with the department’s educational goals and will be
approved if an appropriate plan is developed by the resident
and the proposed mentor.
Feedback
Frequent feedback is a cornerstone of the educational process
in producing the best surgeon. We employ a 360º evaluations
to help achieve this purpose. Faculty, nurses, students and
other residents evaluate the Housestaff regularly. Also, the
faculty evaluates the operative performance of residents for
index cases. This allows immediate feedback to the resident
for procedure. The Program Director provides counseling every
quarter, and more frequently, if necessary.
At all times the resident is under the direct and continuous
supervision of the academic and clinical faculty who are committed
to the mission of the program.
Each resident is assigned a faculty advisor who meets on
a regular basis with them to address any issue that is appropriate
from personal to programmatic problems. The residents are
encouraged to bring issues to their advisor or to the Program
Director as needed.
Apply through ERAS
We are accepting applications by the Electronic Residency
Application Service (ERAS) www.aamc.org/eras/ais/start.htm.
Deadline for applications is December 1 of the current year.
Our program requires USMLE transcripts
and a color photo along with all other ERAS documents.
General Surgery Residency Program
University of South Alabama Medical Center
2451 Fillingim Street, Mobile, Al 36617-2293
Ms. Alma Platt, Residency Coordinator
Office of Surgical Education
Phone # (251)471-7990
aplatt@usouthal.edu
For information on all USA Residencies
http://www.southalabama.edu/com/residency
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