Chattanooga Surgery Residency Curriculum

PGY-1 Residents Curriculum

Rotations, call schedules, and conference responsibilities are similar for PGY-1 level Surgery residents. The usual first-year experience includes: 

PGY-1: Categorical
Rotation	Months
General Surgery	7 Months
Trauma	2 - 4 Months
Vascular	1 - 2 Months

PGY-1: Preliminary
Rotation	Months
General Surgery	6 Months
Peds	1 Month
Trauma	2 - 4 Months
Vascular	1 - 2 Months

 

PGY-2 Residents Curriculum

Rotation	Months
General Surgery	2 Months
Peds	2 Months
Research	4 Months
SCC	3 Months
Vascular	1 Month

 

PGY-3 Residents Curriculum

Rotation	Months
Bariatrics	1 Month
Breast	1 Month
General Surgery	1 - 2 Months
Peds	2 Months
Research	3 Months
Rural Rotation	2 Months
SCC	2 Months

 

PGY-4 Residents Curriculum

Rotation	Months
General Surgery	3 Months
Research	4 Months
Thoracic	2 Months
Trauma Chief	2 - 3 Months
Vascular	1 Month

 

PGY-5 Residents Curriculum

Rotation	Months
General Surgery Senior	8 Months
Trauma Chief	2 - 3 Months
Vascular	2 Months

 

 PGY-6 Chief Residents Curriculum

Rotation	Months
General Surgery Chief	10 Months
Elective	2 Months

 

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We provide PGY-1 residents with protected time for dedicated skills curriculum during the first 6 months of training. This curriculum focuses on chest tubes and central lines, intubation, knot tying, laparotomy, laparoscopic, suturing, and bowel/vascular anastomoses. We have tissue models, laparoscopic and robotic trainers, and a GI simulator.

All residents are encouraged to attend the skills lab sessions on Thursdays. Our skills lab is run by former pediatric surgeon, Dr. Michael Carr. 

The Skills Lab and Simulation Center are tremendous assets to our program and part of a facility where residents can practice surgical skills in a more relaxed, less critical environment than an actual operating room. This benefits junior residents by allowing them to develop technical skills outside their day-to-day clinical experience.