General Surgery Residency Program
General Surgery Residency Program
ABOUT THE GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY
Training World-Class Surgeons and Leaders
University of Utah Health is a world-class medical center offering the most up-to-date, innovative and comprehensive, high-value care possible. For 14 consecutive years, University of Utah Health has been ranked in the top 10 in the Vizient Inc’s Quality and Accountability Study, including a number of years at number 1. The Department of Surgery and the Division of General Surgery are key players in this success. Through the Department of Surgery, more than 75,000 surgical patients are seen by over 650 physicians and staff each year. Through exceptional patient care, outstanding education, and cutting-edge discovery, the vision of the Department of Surgery is “The future of surgery, delivered today.” As witnessed by a rich legacy of developing prominent surgical leaders, including eight department chairs, outstanding surgical education is what the University of Utah General Surgery Residency does.
Supported by the abundant resources and collaborative culture of the University of Utah Health Science Center and Department of Surgery, the mission, vision, and values of the General Surgery Residency Program are:
Mission: To train world-class academic and community surgeons and future leaders of surgery who will serve locally, nationally, and globally.
Vision: At the completion of residency, our graduates will be poised to assume leadership roles in academic and community surgery, healthcare administration, innovation, and deliver the future of surgery, today.
Values: We believe that being a surgeon is a privilege that is continually earned through humility, dedication, hard work, and lifelong self-directed learning that is driven by a love of all humankind.
We hope that you enjoy exploring this website, the University of Utah Health Science Center, the amazing beauty of the Salt Lake valley, and the great state of Utah where collaboration and inclusion are more than just words – they are a way of life. You will easily see why Salt Lake City is one of the fastest-growing and most desirable places to live in the United States. Regardless of where you are from, as a general surgery resident at the University of Utah, you will quickly feel at home in Utah – where both life and surgery are elevated.
Laura A. Lambert, MD, FACS, FSSO
Program Director
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Explore what makes the University of Utah General Surgery Residency a comprehensive and rewarding training experience. With a 6- to 7-year duration, the program offers residents a structured balance of education, hands-on experience, and personal well-being. Residents benefit from a robust academic schedule, including weekly clinical case conferences, simulation labs, and multiple interdisciplinary meetings across four premier teaching hospitals—University Hospital/Huntsman Cancer Institute, Primary Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center, and Intermountain Medical Center. The program strictly follows ACGME duty hour guidelines and prioritizes resident wellness through protected time, confidential mental health support, and a culture that encourages work-life balance. Competitive salaries, extensive benefits, and access to Utah’s stunning natural surroundings round out a truly enriching training environment. Click the links below to explore our educational structure, wellness initiatives, clinical conferences, and training facilities in more detail.
Our goal is for you to develop into a complete, independent, safe general surgeon. Thus, our clinical program is not based on you completing a fellowship. It is based on you being well trained and ready for independent practice.
6 to 7 years
Our Education Chief Residents plan and coordinate with faculty a robust didactic schedule on Wednesday mornings. These conferences include monthly Indications Conference, M&M Conference, and Video Case Review with a Faculty Panel, weekly Resident Education Clinical Case Conferences on specific topics, and weekly Small Group Break-out Sessions on specific topics. Simulation Labs are regularly scheduled throughout the year including but not limited to: Suture Skills, FLS, Robotics, Chest Wall Reconstruction, Rib Plating, and Chest Tubes.
We follow the duty hours standards for surgery residents from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) that include:
- Weekly limit: 80 hours per week, averaged over four weeks
- Continuous duty: 24-hour limit on continuous duty, with up to four additional hours for education and continuity of care
- Days off: One day per week free from educational and clinical responsibilities, averaged over four weeks
- In House on-call frequency: No more than once every three nights, averaged over four weeks
Stipend Schedule & Trainee Benefits for the upcoming Academic Year will be released at the end of September.
The current FY24 schedule is posted on the GME website.
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HOSPITAL/HUNTSMAN CANCER INSTITUTE
Monday
- Burn Professor Rounds - every Monday
- Colorectal Surgery Conference - every Monday
- Sarcoma Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning Conference - every Monday
Tuesday
- Gastrointestinal Tumor Board - every Tuesday
Wednesday
- Department of Surgery Grand Rounds - 2nd Wednesdays
- General Surgery Division Grand Rounds - 1st & 4th Wednesdays
- Indications Conference - 1st Wednesdays
- M&M Conference - 4th Wednesdays
- Resident Personal Protected Time - 3rd Wednesdays (no other conferences scheduled)
- Resident Education Clinical Case Conference - 1st, 2nd, & 4th Wednesdays
- Vascular Conference - every Wednesday
- Surgical Oncology Conference - every Wednesday
Thursday
- Breast Conference, Acute Care Surgery Conference - every first and third Thursday
- Melanoma Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning Conference - every Thursday
- Trauma Grand Rounds - 3rd Thursday of even-numbered months
GEORGE E. WHALEN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER
Wednesday
- Pre OP and M&M Conference - every Wednesday
The University of Utah GME program offers a robust Wellness Program for all GME trainees. In addition to this, the General Surgery Residency Program has also implemented a number of wellness measures for all of our residents.
Opt-Out Wellness Check In
- In coordination for the GME Wellness program, the residency provides every resident with an opportunity to take an afternoon of protected time during which they are invited and encouraged to schedule an appointment with one of the therapists in the GME Wellness Center. The residents are not required to return to clinical work after this session. These appointments are strictly confidential, and the program director and faculty do not know which residents meet with the therapists. Residents can op-out of the visit with the therapist and still use the time for their own wellness with no questions asked. This program is fully supported by the program director, the chief of the Division of General Surgery and the chair of the Department of Surgery. Through this effort we hope to decrease the stigma around mental health, normalize the use of the GME wellness resources and increase the wellbeing of both residents and faculty.
3rd Wednesday Resident Protected Time
- All residents have protected time in the morning of the 3rd Wednesday of each month. This time can be used for academic, administrative or personal concerns.
Snack Program
- The Division of General Surgery provides snacks for the residents in the general surgery call rooms.
Ski Day and Beyond
- Each year, residents and faculty participate in ski day together out of the hospital and outdoors in the beautiful mountains of Utah. Also, the program is working to expand the opportunities for residents and faculty to socialize outside the hospital in venues such as art museums and cooking classes.
Nature
- One of the greatest contributors to wellness at the University of Utah is the natural environment of Utah. Even if you are not an outdoor enthusiast, it is hard to not be inspired and rejuvenated by the panoramic scenery, the mountain vistas, and the amazing sunsets.
GME Office
- The Office of Graduate Medical Education is committed to ensuring that residents and fellows remain physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy while completing their training program. Check out the many resources on their Wellness Overview Page.
Our program uses four different facilities for training:
- University Hospital / Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI)
- George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA)
- Primary Children's Hospital (PCH)
- Intermountain Medical Center (IMC)
Each of these locations uses the principle of progressive autonomy to achieve the above-stated goal of developing into an independent surgeon.
GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY ROTATION INFORMATION
The University of Utah General Surgery Residency offers diverse and immersive rotation experiences. In addition to core clinical training, residents are expected to spend 1-2 years on Professional Development Year (PDY) focused on research, global surgery, or other professional development programs geared to support their long-term career goals. Early and progressive exposure to endoscopic, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery is a cornerstone of the program. Residents gain hands-on experience using cutting-edge simulators and technologies, with structured curricula that meet or exceed national standards like FES, FLS, and robotic surgery credentialing. Click the links below to learn more about our rotations and technical training opportunities.
University of Utah General Surgery Residency Program is a 6 to 7 year program for all residents. The extra years are dedicated to Professional Development after completion of the PGY3 year. This time can be spent in many different areas, including basic science research, health services research, global surgery, innovations, fellowships, etc. Please see the Professional Development section of our website.
ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY
Endoscopy is a critical skill for general surgeons, especially those who are going into practice in rural environments. The American Board of Surgery has mandated that all surgery residents pass the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery curriculum (FEC) and the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery practical exam (FES). At Utah, we not only provide you with the educational material to pass FEC, we are also a testing center for FES. This means you will train on the simulator on which you will test. The entire fundamentals program is completed during the first three years or residency. For more information, please see the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery website
LAPRASCOPIC SURGERY
The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) education program can be used as either a teaching tool or as a graduation requirement (as mandated by the American Board of Surgery). Our program feels very strongly that FLS should be mastered early in residency such that you have the skills necessary to complete the basic laparoscopic procedures during residency.
For more information on the FLS program, please check the main FLS Website
ROBOTIC SURGERY
As the only academic training center in the Mountain West, the University of Utah is at the cutting edge of training in all areas. This includes robotic surgery. Our surgery program utilizes the most modern DaVinci robots. You will begin your exposure to robotic surgery as a PGY-1. During this time, you will complete the online curriculum and work on mastering the basics or robot docking and instrument changes. You will also have the opportunity to operate at the robot console. As you master exercises on the robotic surgery simulator, you will get to do more at the console. It is expected, by the end of training, that you will meet all the requirements to obtain an equivalency certificate that can be used to obtain robotic surgery privileges. The decision of competence in robotic surgery is made by the surgery faculty. Lastly, there is a push being made for use of a “Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery” test, similar to Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery. If this is implemented, the program is already prepared.
Our current requirements for robotic surgery are:
- Completion of the Davinci online curriculum
- Completion of docking training (not on patients)
- Completion of instrumentation training (not on patients)
- Completion of simulation exercises, tracked by the SimNow program
- Bedside assistant for five cases
- Console surgeon
Rotations where robotic surgery is performed:
- University General Surgery
- University Colorectal Surgery
- University Thoracic Surgery
- University Surgical Oncology
- VA General Surgery
- IMC General Surgery
GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY STRUCTURE
The University of Utah General Surgery Residency is a 6- to 7-year program designed to provide progressive, hands-on training and strong academic development. The five clinical years are structured to build increasing levels of surgical responsibility, from broad exposure in PGY-1 to leading teams as a PGY-5 Chief Resident. Between PGY-3 and PGY-4, all residents complete a required Professional Development Year (PDY) focused on research, innovation, or academic growth, supported by strong faculty mentorship and institutional infrastructure. Residents rotate through a wide variety of surgical specialties across major hospitals in the region and also receive national exposure by attending the American College of Surgeons meeting and engaging in high-impact research. Click the links below to learn more about our residency structure, rotation schedule, and professional development opportunities.
This year is meant to be an introduction to general surgery in addition to the various specialties in general surgery. Most rotations are one month long, and include:
- Acute Care Surgery (Intermountain Medical Center)
- Acute Care Surgery (University)
- Burn Surgery (University)
- Colorectal Surgery (University)
- General Surgery (VA Hospital)
- Minimally Invasive Surgery (University)
- Pediatric Surgery (Primary Children's Hospital)
- Surgical Oncology / Gastro Intestinal / Endocrine (University)
- Surgical Oncology / Melanoma / Breast (University)
- Vascular Surgery (University)
This year is about building on your PGY 1 foundation. These rotations are one or two months in length. Rotations include:
- Acute Care Surgery-PM (University for 2 months)
- Colorectal Surgery (University for 1 month)
- Cardio Vascular Intensive Care (University for 1 month)
- General Surgery (Intermountain Medical Center for 2 months)
- General Surgery (VA Hospital for 2 months)
- Surgical Intensive Care (University for 1 month)
- Surgical Oncology / Gastro Intestinal / Endocrine (University for 1 month)
- Thoracic (University for 2 months)
This is a transitional year for the residency. On some of the services, you are the most senior resident, while on others you may be the only resident working one on one with faculty members. You will also participate in Endoscopy during this year. These rotations are one or two months in length. Rotations include:
- Acute Care Surgery (University for 2 months)
- Cardio Vascular Intensive Care (University for 1 month)
- Endoscopy (VA for 2 months)
- General Surgery (Intermountain Medical Center for 2 months)
- Minimally Invasive Surgery (University for 2 months)
- Pediatric Surgery (Primary Children's Hospital for 2 months)
- Plastic Reconstructive Surgery (University for 2 months)
- Surgical Intensive Care (University for 1 month)
- Transplant Surgery (Intermountain Medical Center for 1 months)
You are now starting the senior years of the program. On some rotations, you are the most senior resident. There are still opportunities to work one on one as the only resident on a rotation These rotations are 1 and 2 months in length and include:
- Acute Care Surgery-PM (University for 2 months)
- Community General Surgery (Tooele for 1 month)
- Elective of Your Choice (for 1 month)
- Elective General Surgery/Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (University for 2 months)
- General Surgery (Intermountain Medical Center for 2 months)
- Surgical Oncology / Gastro Intestinal / Endocrine (University for 2 months)
- Vascular Surgery (University for 2 months)
The Chief year is important in your development as a competent, independent general surgeon. You are expected to lead teams and care for the most complex patients in the hospital. It is here, in addition to some of the time during your PGY-4 year, where you refine all the skills you have acquired thus far in the residency. Rotations are 2 months in length and include:
- Acute Care Surgery (University for 2 months)
- Colorectal Surgery (University for 2 months)
- General Surgery (VA for 2 months)
- Minimally Invasive Surgery (University for 2 months)
- Surgical Oncology / Gastro Intestinal / Endocrine (University for 2 months)
- Surgical Oncology / Melanoma / Breast (University for 2 months)
GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Professional Development Year (PDY) program provides residents with a 1-2 year opportunity to pursue research and additional training, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career as leaders in their chosen field, including academic medicine and clinical research. Each resident’s plan is tailored to fit their long-term goals. Residents are encouraged to identify and pursue research or clinical fellowships that align with their individual interests and aspirations
For those residents who pursue traditional research, we provide structured mentorship and hands-on research experiences to help residents develop as clinician-scientists, learning to generate meaningful research questions, design and execute studies, and publish their findings. Alternatively, residents may choose to pursue fellowships or other professional development opportunities that align with their career aspirations. Many residents have successfully completed internal and external fellowships and training programs, including opportunities to pursue a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI), Surgical Research Fellowship (SERF), and the Hospice & Palliative Care Fellowship Program.
For those interested in a dedicated 1-2-year research experience, faculty across various divisions—including General Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Pediatric Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and Cardiothoracic Surgery—serve as eager mentors with strong records of extramural funding and publications in top-tier journals.
Additionally, all residents participating in the program have the opportunity to attend the annual Association for Academic Surgery Research Course.
SURGICAL VOLUMES
On average, chief residents can complete anywhere from 1,100 to 1,300 cases by the end of their final year.
GENERAL SURGERY PROGRAM APPLICATION
The University of Utah General Surgery Residency Program accepts applications through ERAS for six categorical positions each year. Successful candidates typically bring meaningful experience in clinical care, research, leadership, or service. At least three letters of recommendation from general surgeons who know the applicant well are required. The program conducts a holistic review of approximately 500–550 applications and participates in the ERAS Supplemental Application. All interviews will be held virtually and include time with current residents and faculty. Click the links below to learn more about how to apply, key dates, and selection criteria.
Applicants must apply through the standard ERAS through the Association of American Medical Colleges Categorical position's program code: 4404921340
USMLE Step 2 scores > 240 and graduation from medical school within the previous 2 years.
Applicant interest in a 6 to7 year residency program and relevant work, research, leadership and life experience.
At least three letters from general surgeons who know you well and are willing to describe the clinical strengths that you have displayed on their services that are required.
The University of Utah General Surgery Residency receives over 1,000 applications for 6 categorical spots each year.
Screening parameters include graduation from medical school within the previous 2 years. The secondary review includes, but is not limited to, applicant interest in a 6 to 7 year residency program and relevant work, research, leadership and life experience.
The University of Utah General Surgery Residency program participates in the ERAS Supplemental Application.
At least three letters from general surgeons who know you well and are willing to describe the clinical strengths required that you have displayed on their services. Past performance and clinical success are the best predictors of future success in our program; therefore, clinicians who have observed you closely as an acting or sub-intern can provide the best letters.
The program will be conducting a holistic review of approximately 500-550 applications for possible interview selection.
Additional screening parameters include: USMLE Step 2 scores > 240 and graduation from medical school within the previous 2 years. The secondary review includes, but is not limited to, applicant interest in a 6 to 7 year residency program and relevant work, research, leadership and life experience.
The University of Utah General Surgery Residency program participates in the ERAS Supplemental Application.
2025-2026 INTERVIEW DATES
- November 11 & 12
- November 18 & 19
- December 2 & 3
- December 9 & 10
All Interviews will be conducted virtually and will include an introduction by the program director and a social hour with the residents starting at 6PM MDT Tuesday evening, followed by Grand Rounds and interviews on Wednesday morning, ending around 12PM MST.
We are planning to send out the first round of invitations to interview between 10/23 - 10/26/25. Invitees will have 48 hours to accept the invitation, after which it will be offered to another applicant.
The University of Utah Hospital/School of Medicine accepts applications from international medical graduates.
The University of Utah will accept ONLY a J1 visa for residency training, and ECFMG must sponsor that visa.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
All applications must be submitted via ERAS, and International students must obtain ECFMG certification prior to starting the ERAS process. Please review our Application Checklist tab for details and the list of required documents.
It's highly recommended you submit your application as early as possible. We are planning to send out the first round of invitations to interview between 10/23 - 10/25/25.
Our surgery program is approved for six (6) categorical residents per academic year.
- July 1, is the first day of clinical responsibilities.
- Program and GME Orientation Starts on June 22, 2026.
On average, chief residents can complete anywhere from 1,100 to 1,300 cases by the end of their final year.
Our graduating residents have a first-time pass rate of 100% on the American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (written boards) and 100% on the Certifying Exam (oral boards).
Yes. University of Utah General Surgery Residency Program is a 6-7 year program for all residents. The extra years are dedicated to Professional Development. This time can be spent in many different areas, including basic science research, health services research, global surgery, innovations, etc. Please see the Professional Development section of our website.
Typically, three to four residents per graduating class will pursue fellowships. The remaining residents enter private or community-based practice.
The University of Utah is home to world-renowned medical care and research facilities; namely, the University Hospital’s Level 1 Trauma Center, Jon Huntsman Cancer Institute, Primary Children’s Hospital, and the original Center for Global Surgery. The surgery residents are exceptionally well-trained and prepared for either advanced fellowship training or solo, rural private practice. In addition, the University of Utah is located close to Salt Lake's vibrant urban centers that feature world class theater, art, and live entertainment in a natural setting of unrivaled fascination and beauty.
OTHER HELPFUL LINKS
CONNECT WITH US
DIRECTOR: Laura Lambert, MD, FACS
PROGRAM MANAGER:
- Phone: 801-581-6803
- Email: gensurg-residency@hsc.utah.edu