General Surgery Residency Program
About
The General Surgery Residency at Madigan Army Medical Center is seeking motivated medical students to join our exceptional team! Since 1954, we remain dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to our beneficiaries, while simultaneously training our residents for the expeditionary environment. Our service is intimately involved in surgical support of the 102nd, 250th, and 758th Forward Surgical Teams (FST) and the 47th Combat Support Hospital (CSH). In this role we offer realistic military unique training for surgical residents and prepare to answer our Nation’s calling.
Our mission is to train and produce General Surgeons who are competent to serve in our Nation’s defense in both war and peace. To that end, we aim to graduate surgeons of character who are technically facile, emotionally intelligent, and leaders in combat medicine. If you are looking for a challenging program that values personal growth, teamwork, and excellence, then look no further!
Madigan is a Level II trauma center that is affiliated with academic, community based, and private practices throughout Washington. These relationships allows for the exposure to the entire spectrum of practice patterns and also allows for diverse operative opportunities. Affiliated institutions include: Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, St Joe’s Medical Center, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, and Sacred Heart Medical Center. Average cases of Madigan graduates include:
- Vascular cases: 100
- Operative trauma: 50
- Liver surgeries: 20
- Pancreas surgeries: 20
- Complex laparoscopy: 100
- Total: 1,200-1,400
Here are some highlights about Madigan’s General Surgery Residency Program and our commitment to excellence:
- In 2018, The American Journal of Surgery published a study that ranked Madigan as the program with the highest first time board pass rate over 15 years of all 231 general surgery residency programs across the country.
- For the past 5 years, over 50% of the residents have scored in the top 10% on the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE).
- Home of “ Behind the Knife: The Surgery Podcast.”
- Early operative experience with the average highest case volume of any military program.
- Night float throughout residency.
R1 Year (PGY-1)
Madigan believes in early operative exposure as the primary surgeon. The intern will rotate among General Surgery, Acute Care, Vascular, and Burn surgery rotations. By the end of the intern year, Madigan interns have performed 100-120 surgeries as the primary surgeon.
R2 Year (PGY-2)
The second clinical year builds upon the foundation of intern year. There is an increased focus on critical care medicine in trauma, thoracic, and transplant ICUs. Second year residents will also serve as the primary consultant for surgical consults through Madigan’s Emergency Department.
Research Year (PGY-3)
The resident’s 3rd year is devoted to research, and the resident’s time is protected with minimal clinical responsibilities. There is significant freedom for the resident to explore individualized research interests and participate in our robust forward surgical research. Active research portfolio includes emphasis upon three focus areas targeting forward combat surgical care:
- Studies investigating the management of hemorrhagic shock and acute coagulopathy of trauma.
- Advanced application of thermal and night vision imaging for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
- Austere surgical supply management utilizing 3D printing technologies.
R3 Year (PGY-4)
The 3rd clinical year increases the complexity of operative cases performed. In addition to building on General Surgery, residents will rotate through Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, a private practice bariatric practice, and increase their trauma exposure at Harborview Medical Center.
R4 Year (PGY-5)
The PGY-4 rotations at Madigan Army Medical Center mark the transition to the role of team supervisor. On the majority of the rotations, the PGY-4 is the senior resident on the team and therefore, responsible for the supervision of the residents and the overall care of the patient with continued staff oversight. The complexity of operative cases continues to increase and the PGY-4 resident is expected to be aware of all aspects of his or her patient’s condition and the proposed management plan.
Chief Year (PGY-6)
The chief year represents the most rewarding moment for trainees with wide latitude to develop personal leadership and refine patient management skills. The chief resident is the primary surgeon for complex general and vascular procedures and is expected to be intimately involved in all aspects of the patients care.
