General Surgery Residency Program
South Brooklyn Health General Surgery Residency
NYC Health + Hospitals / South Brooklyn Health offers a five-year General Surgery Residency in Brooklyn, New York that begins on July 1 of each year. The residency’s combined training sites are a rich and varied source of surgical patients, diseases, and care settings, making for comprehensive training. Each year we select three first-year categorical residents for the residency.
The goal of our General Surgery program is to train exceptionally qualified surgeons who have the skills and ability to function at the highest level and provide state-of-the-art, compassionate patient care. In addition to producing technically superb surgeons who demonstrate an ability to operate independently, the program also focuses on developing residents who are well-grounded in the basic science of surgery and will preserve and communicate knowledge through education.
Our program aims to develop residents into the future leaders of academic surgery who make significant contributions to the future development of the clinical and research aspects of the practice of surgery.
Our residency provides a wealth of clinical and operative experience, a diverse house staff, and faculty passionate about teaching, as well as a variety of clinical and basic science research experiences. Progressive responsibility is the key element of the residency, with surgical decision-making and responsibilities taught in clinical and didactic settings.
A broad exposure to all areas of general surgery is provided to ensure the development of adequate clinical knowledge. NYC Health + Hospitals / South Brooklyn Health serves as the primary teaching facility offering expertise in primary, secondary, and tertiary surgical medicine.
As a part of our program, residents train at the following sites:
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Montefiore Einstein Center for Transplantation
- Cohen Children’s Medical Center
- R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland
Our Commitment to Diversity
Leaders in the Department of Surgery are committed to actively recruiting a diverse group of house staff, administrative employees, faculty members, and advanced practice providers. We aspire to create an environment in which all members are treated equally, and all opinions and views are respected.
At NYC Health + Hospitals / South Brooklyn Health, our goal is to train a diverse complement of surgeons who represent the populations we serve. Our program is open to all interested students.
Letter from the Department Chair – Dr. Muthukumar Muthusamy
As members of the clinical staff of NYC Health + Hospitals / South Brooklyn Health, our team of experienced surgeons offer patients outstanding, humane and personalized care. We believe that access to safe surgery is an essential human right and thus a pillar of South Brooklyn Health’s commitment to deliver comprehensive care for all it serves.
In doing so, we demand excellence in all domains of our work including clinical care, teaching, research and advocacy. As faculty members we are educating future generations of surgeons, who will influence the field of surgery for generations to come and advancing state-of-the-art surgical treatment.
Our recently opened state of the art inpatient building, the Ruth Bader Ginsberg Hospital, with 8 operating rooms, an endoscopy suite and emergency department utilize the new technology available. Our ambulatory settings in the Health & Wellness Building are in the design phase to bring the latest technology to our patients.
Our goal is to provide a work life balance while educating quality surgeons.
Thank you for your interest in our Program.
Muthukumar Muthusamy, MBBS
Chairman, Department of Surgery
Curriculum for the General Surgery Residency Program
Residents are excused from clinical responsibilities for educational sessions which include lectures to cover areas of basic and clinical science of general surgery, and are presented by residents and faculty. The Program has a weekly Morbidity & Mortality Conference, a monthly Clinical Conference, as well as, a monthly Clinical Scenarios session which allows the resident the opportunity to coordinate all aspects of a patient’s care utilizing staff presenting as patients with a variety of conditions and socio-economic backgrounds. In addition, there are bi-weekly Grand Rounds, Basic Science Lectures, Journal Club, which reviews publications in the surgical literature and a simulation lab session. The simulation lab session teaches residents suturing, knot tying and other basic skills at the beginning of the first year, and extends in complexity of skills taught to residents in all years of the training program. As residents gain more experience, sessions involve more complex case-based skills.
Residents will be asked to participate in the Resident and Associate Society of American Society of Surgeons (RAS-ACS) and JACS Journal Club. This is a joint venture that engages trainees and junior attendings through discussions with world experts. This on-line forum utilizes information technology and promotes leadership and lifelong learning by applying information from surgeons all over the world to the care and treatment of their patients.
Clinical Rotations
Surgical residents gain expertise in the preoperative, operative, and postoperative care of patients with general surgical diseases under the guidance of expert faculty.
First year rotations consist of 4-week rotations geared towards acquiring broad basic skills in the general surgical specialties including colorectal, thoracic, plastic, vascular, and intensive care. Residents are integrated at the PGY-2 level into progressively independent leadership responsibilities, commensurate with increasing levels of clinical experience. This includes 4-8 week rotations in colorectal, trauma, breast, pediatric surgery, thoracic, endoscopy, intensive care and research.
The PGY-3 year provides rotations including intensive care, surgery, surgical oncology, transplant and pediatric surgery. The PGY-4 year allows residents to focus on major areas of surgery including laparoscopic surgery and trauma. The PGY-5 year is devoted to operating independently and maturation of clinical decision making, as well as developing leadership skills by leading teams of surgical residents. The Chief resident is responsible for running her/his own services.
Rotation Schedule
The General Surgery Residency Program employs a rotation schedule designed to give its trainees broad, intensive and useful exposure to all required surgical disciplines.
Surgery rotations provide exposure to the essential content areas: the abdomen and its contents; the alimentary tract; skin, soft tissues, and breast; endocrine surgery; head and neck surgery; non-cardiac thoracic surgery; and the vascular system.
Electives can be chosen from the following; Emergency Medicine, Urology, Radiology, Endoscopy, Pain Management or Research. If a resident would prefer an elective in a different discipline then listed above, the Program Director will coordinate with the appropriate Chief of Service.
Year 1
- Surgery
- SICU
- Radiology
- Anesthesia / Pain Management
- Elective
Year 2
- Surgery
- SICU
- Endoscopy
- Research
- Trauma / Burn*
* University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
Year 3
- Surgery
- SICU
- Surgical Oncology **
- Transplant ***
- Pediatric Surgery ****
** Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
*** Montefiore Medical Center
**** Cohen Children’s Medical Center / Northwell Health
Year 4
- Surgery
- Trauma / Burn *
* University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
Year 5
- Surgery
Applying to Our Program
We are currently accepting applications for the NRMP Match through ERAS. Applications are due when ERAS opens and are reviewed immediately.
The following positions are offered each year:
- 3 categorical general surgery positions
Application Requirements include:
- Completed ERAS application
- Personal Statement
- Curriculum vitae
- Official Medical School Transcript
- Three letters of recommendation
- USMLE board scores
- Dean’s letter
For Foreign Medical Graduates:
- ECFMG certificate is needed at time of beginning residency.
Each year Invitations for interviews will be sent out within six weeks of receipt.
Resident Research
Research is a critical component of surgical training. Clinical and basic science research is a major focus of our surgical faculty and residents.
Residents are required to complete a research project in collaboration with their faculty member during the course of their residency.
Resident Life
The goal of this program is to give residents a chance to socialize outside of work, help facilitate work life balance, and promote wellness among the residents by reminding them they have a life outside the hospital. New York City is one of the most amazing diverse cities in the world and our goal is to help residents make the most of their limited free time by getting out and exploring as much of it as possible.
Less then a mile from South Brooklyn Health is Luna Park, home to the Cyclone, Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs and the International Hotdog eating contest.
The Cyclone is a wooden roller coaster that opened on June 26, 1927. The Cyclone reaches a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) and has a total track length of 2,640 feet (800 m), with a maximum height of 85 feet (26 m).
The original Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand still exists at its original 1916 site. Service is provided year-round inside, and during the summer additional walk-up windows are opened to serve the larger seasonal crowds. The original location still features fried frog legs, which have been a Nathan’s menu item since the 1950s. It is not offered at any other Nathan’s locations.
.jpg){kind=link}
The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest has been held annually at the original location on Coney Island since the early 1970s on the 4th of July. Contestants try to consume as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes.
Just down the street from Luna Park are the New York Mets Class A affiliate the Brooklyn Cyclones. Take in a game after strolling the boardwalk!