Best General Surgery Residency

Much of the data above is available from the AAMC Charting the Outcomes report.

How Competitive is a General Surgery Residency? Updated for 2023

If you want a career as a general surgeon, here is how competitive the medical specialty is to match a general surgery residency. General surgery is the branch of medicine that involves the surgical care focused on abdominal contents including esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland (depending on local referral patterns).

Statistics on the General Surgery Match

In 2022, general surgery had a total of 2,400 applicants and 1,622 spots. This equates to 1.48 applicants per position. Of the 1206 U.S. MD seniors who applied, 222 did not match.

Total Positions	Total Number of Applicants	Number of Applicants per Position
1,622	2,400	1.48

Osteopathic (DO) Students Matching into General Surgery

In 2022, the total number of DO Senior Applicants was 325. Of those, 200 matched, for a 61.54 % match percentage. This makes general surgery a Not Friendly field for osteopathic students.

Total DO Applicants	Matched DO Applicants	DO Match Percentage
325	200	61.54%

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) Matching into General Surgery

Because there are 0.74 U.S. MD applicants per 1 program spot, general surgery is considered to be Friendly for IMGs students.

Honors, Research and Awards for General Surgery Residency Candidates

The average matched U.S. applicant had 8.3 volunteer experiences and 3.6 work experiences. They had 4 research experiences and 7.1 abstracts, presentations and publications. That makes this specialty on where the number of publications needed is Medium.

Research Experiences	Abstracts, Presentations and Publications	Work Experiences	Volunteer Experiences
4	7.1	3.6	8.3

Average Step 1 and Step 2 Scores for General Surgery

The mean U.S. Step 1 score for matched medical students in general surgery was 237. The mean USMLE Step 2 CK score was 250 .

Overall Competitiveness of General Surgery Residency and Chances of Matching

The overall competitiveness level of general surgery is Medium to High for a U.S. senior. With a Step 1 score of 200, the probability of matching is 34%. With a Step 1 score of >240, the probability is 91 %.

How long is a residency in general surgery? What is the lifestyle like for a general surgery resident?

Compared to other residencies, general surgery has a Medium training length. As far as lifestyle, general surgeons generally have a High stress lifestyle. Of course, lifestyle is very subjective and if you love what you do, it does not matter! And if you hate what you do, it can still be rough no matter what. In medicine, you should find the specialty that makes you enjoy your everyday interactions with patients, staff and colleagues.

What is the average salary for a general surgeon?

The average salary post-graduation from a general surgery residency is $364,000, provided one does not go on to sub-specialty training which can change the salary substantially. Academic versus private practice as well as location also play a large role in physician compensation.

What are fellowships one can do from a general surgery residency?

Following the successful completion of general surgery residency, some physicians may choose to continue their graduate medical education with subspecialty training. Board-certified subspecialists complete additional training and qualifying examinations beyond those required for board certification in general surgery. Currently, the American Board of Surgery certifies the following fellowships:

Subspecialty	Length
Breast Surgery	1 year
Cardiothoracic Surgery	2-3 years
Colorectal Surgery	1 year
Critical Care Medicine	1-2 years
Hand Surgery	1 year
Minimally Invasive Surgery	1 year
Pediatric Surgery	1-2 years
Surgical Critical Care	1 year
Surgical Oncology	1-2 years
Transplant Surgery	1-2 years
Vascular Surgery	1-2 years

What are the best general surgery residencies in the country?

The best residency for general surgery, or any specialty, is very driven by personal preference and situation. How close you are to family, loved ones, the type of training environment, the opportunities available are all things to take into consideration above and beyond name recognition of a program. However, there are some highly regarded names in the world of general surgery including:

• • Johns Hopkins University
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • University of California (San Francisco)
  • Duke University Hospital
  • UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine/UCLA Medical Center
  • Washington University/B-JH/SLCH Consortium
  • University of Michigan Health System
  • Brigham and Women’s Hospital

  Much of the data above is available from the AAMC Charting the Outcomes report.

  Explore Other Specialties:
  

  Specialty	Average Step 1 Score (Matched)	Average Step 2 Score (Matched)
  Anesthesiology	234	246
  Child Neurology	233	246
  Dermatology	248	256
  Diagnostic Radiology	241	249
  Emergency Medicine	233	247
  Family Medicine	221	238
  General Surgery	237	249
  Internal Medicine	235	248
  Internal Medicine/Pediatrics	236	250
  Interventional Radiology	247	255
  Neurological Surgery	248	252
  Neurology	232	245
  Obstetrics and Gynecology	232	248
  Orthopaedic Surgery	248	255
  Otolaryngology	248	256
  Pathology	233	242
  Pediatrics	228	245
  Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation	228	241
  Plastic Surgery	249	256
  Psychiatry	227	241
  Radiation Oncology	243	250
  Vascular Surgery	239	247

  Best Medical Schools for Surgery (2023)

  

  If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about attending medical school and what you’ll be specializing in. If you’re considering becoming a surgeon, you must find the right school.

  In this article, you’ll be given all the facts about the best medical schools for surgery. Making an informed decision about what medical school you should go to isn’t easy. However, this informative guide will help you make that scary yet exciting decision.

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  Best Medical Schools For Surgery In The US

  Below is a list of the best medical schools in the US for surgery.

  Johns Hopkins University Medical School

  Location: Baltimore, Maryland

  Student-faculty ratio: 5.1:1

  Tuition: $62,850

  Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Surgery offers medical students a core surgery clerkship for eight weeks. Students must participate in this clerkship where they will spend the first four weeks on a general surgery rotation, and the following four weeks will be split into two-week rotations on the subspecialty services.

  This clerkship also has students attending lectures and weekly labs to build the right skills needed in their clerkship and future careers.

  The University of California-San Francisco Medical School

  Location: San Francisco, California

  Student-faculty ratio: 4.1:1

  Tuition: $11,700.00

  The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) has a General Surgery Residency Program that prepares students to become safe and qualified surgeons, leaders, and teachers in surgery.

  Clinical rotations are a part of the student’s training process at the UCSF. During rotations, students take care of patients in various hospitals while learning about general surgical techniques and gathering information about clinical situations.

  Students can also participate in research activities for two to three years. This research opportunity begins after the third clinical year.

  Harvard University Medical School

  Location: Boston, Massachusetts

  Student-faculty ratio: 14.6:1

  Tuition: $69,300

  Harvard Medical School (HMS) was founded in 1782. It is the best medical school for surgery in the US Harvard Medical School offers students pursuing their medical degree early clinical experience, advanced clinical experience, as well as basic/population science experiences.

  HMS students are given research opportunities where they can carry out hypothesis-based research in fields like the social sciences, arts, and medical humanities. The research opportunities and fellowships help students gain some experience in the medical field.

  Duke University Medical University

  Location: Durham, North Carolina

  Student-faculty ratio: 2.7:1

  Tuition: $48,745

  Duke University is recognized as one of the top 10 hospitals and medical schools in the US for its excellent clinical training and research programs. The Duke General Surgery Residency Program provides students with a thorough training program. The program also has diverse clinical settings for training available to students.

  • Abdominal Transplant Surgery
  • Breast Surgical Oncology
  • Congenital Cardiac Surgery
  • Endocrine Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery

  The Surgery Residency Program, and the various fellowships, give students the best resources to learn and develop the skills needed for their future careers.

  The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Medical School

  Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

  Student-faculty ratio: 3.9:1

  Tuition: $53,278

  The University of Michigan Ann Arbor Medical School’s General Surgery Residency Program offers students a comprehensive curriculum and fantastic research opportunities. Students will learn operative and surgical skills to help them prepare for their future careers in the field.

  Through clinical rotations, students are offered innovative training experiences where they’ll develop technical and clinical skills. Students are also evaluated and given feedback about their performance during those clinical rotations.

  Stanford University Medical School

  Location: Stanford, California

  Student-faculty ratio: 2.3:1

  Tuition: $63,747

  Stanford University Medical School has a General Surgery Residency Program that offers students a curriculum focused on didactics, general surgery training, and operative experience. The curriculum teaches students the knowledge of general surgery. The program’s training portion gives students the surgical skills needed for their future careers.

  The University of Pennsylvania Medical School

  Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  Student-faculty ratio: 4.6:1

  Tuition: $65,940

  The University of Pennsylvania Medical School has a General Surgery Residency program that teaches students science fundamentals related to clinical surgery and the skills need for patient care in all areas of surgery.

  Fellowships are also available to students in various areas of surgery, such as:

  • Aortic Surgery Fellowship
  • Thoracic Surgery Fellowship
  • Transplant Fellowship
  • Vascular Surgery Fellowship

  The University of Pennsylvania Medical School strives for excellence with its students, training them well for their future careers in the field.

  Columbia University Medical School

  Location: New York, New York

  Student-faculty ratio: 4:1

  Tuition: $70,884

  Columbia University Medical School has a five-year clinical training program. The program heavily focuses on clinical experience, and students engage in pre-training activities. Columbia University Medical School has an online interactive resource as well as inanimate and animate surgical simulations for students to learn from

  New York University Medical School

  Location: New York, New York

  Student-faculty ratio: 2.5:1

  Tuition: $0

  New York University Medical School has a unique approach when it comes to tuition. They’ve offered medical students free tuition to encourage more doctors to choose lower-paying specialties.

  Students tend to gravitate towards high-paying specialties to pay off medical school debt; however, NYU offering free tuition can help students pick the right specialty for them.

  The General Surgery Residency Program offers students a Surgical Core Clerkship where medical students attend presentations, evaluations, and operative treatment for six weeks.

  Northwestern University Medical School

  Location: Chicago, Illinois

  Student-faculty ratio: 3.1:1

  Tuition: $69,850

  The General Surgery Residency Program at Northwestern University includes the following training:

  • Three junior clinical years
  • Two professional development and research years
  • Two senior clinical years

  The program offers students a comprehensive curriculum, clinical rotations, and mentorships. Students are also later evaluated on their performance.

  Washington University in St. Louis Medical School

  Location: St. Louis, Missouri

  Student-faculty ratio: 5.5:1

  Tuition: $69,250

  Washington University in St. Louis’ General Surgery Residency Program offers flexible surgical training to students so that they can learn at their own pace. The medical school offers this flexibility by introducing skills and a simulation lab that allows students to learn technical skills.

  A wide array of research opportunities are also available to students with the supervision of mentors. Students have the chance to research various topics such as surgery, immunology, genetics, and public health.

  Mayo Clinic School of Medicine

  Location: Rochester, Minnesota

  Student-faculty ratio: 2.1:1

  Tuition: $64,000

  Mayo Clinic School of Medicine’s General Surgery Residency Program teaches students about performing standard and complex surgical procedures one-on-one with a Mayo Clinic Surgeon.

  The curriculum consists of clinical training where students will be able to observe and participate in various surgeries. Clinical research is also available to students, where they can conduct at least one clinical research project.

  The University of California-Los Angeles Medical School

  Location: Los Angeles, California

  Student-faculty ratio: 3.9:1

  Tuition: $43,843

  The University of California-Los Angeles’ (UCLA) General Surgery Residency Program offers students formal education and clinical rotations. The curriculum consists of weekly didactics, teaching sessions, and surgical anatomy labs.

  Students also take two to three years off from clinical training to pursue research projects. These research projects range from basic science to health services.

  Vanderbilt University

  Location: Nashville, TN

  Student-faculty ratio: 6.9:1

  Tuition: $66,828

  Vanderbilt’s General Surgery Residency Program allows students to work closely with specialty surgeons and researchers, working together as a cohesive team to not only deliver exceptional care to their patients, but also to discover the latest in surgical innovations.

  Located in Nashville, the surrounding community also gives students a chance to explore and unwind in the vibrant city.

  Yale University

  Location: New Haven, CT

  Student-faculty ratio: 4.1:1

  Tuition: $67,484

  Yale, part of the Ivy League, have been known for it’s excellence in education from it’s inception. Their General Surgery Residency program is no exception to this. What sets Yale’s teaching style apart is new surgeons are not graded for the first two years of their residency. Rather, they are encouraged to take responsibility for their own education by attending small group seminars and learning in a state of the art and hands on approach. It is common that new residents reach over 300 surgery cases in these first two years.

  The University of Pittsburgh Medical School

  Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  Student-faculty ratio: 3.9:1

  Tuition: $63,334

  If you’re looking for a flexible General Surgery Residency Program, the University of Pittsburgh Medical School offers just that. It provides students with both basic and advanced surgical experience. The program has various educational and training tools, clinical rotations, and research opportunities.

  Emory University Medical School

  Location: Atlanta, Georgia

  Student-faculty ratio: 4:1

  Tuition: $54,000

  The General Surgery Residency Program at Emory University Medical School is five years long, with the option of adding an extra one or two years for a research sabbatical. With their six training facilities, students are given exposure to surgical cases.

  In recent years, Emory University has extended its rotations to include plastic surgery, cardiac surgery, pediatric surgery, and minimally invasive surgery to increase student exposure to the field.

  Baylor College of Medicine

  Location: Houston, Texas

  Student-faculty ratio: 3.7:1

  Tuition: $19,425

  The General Surgery Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicine offers students a broad range of clinical rotations. Students are also given training in all areas of general surgery such as abdomen, breast, head and neck, vascular system, endocrine, trauma, and critical care.

  The school’s Simulation Core is a crucial tool for training students. It provides students with the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques and continuous education for practicing surgeons.

  Cornell University Medical School

  Location: New York, New York

  Student-faculty ratio: 4.1:1

  Tuition: $67,400

  The General Surgery Residency Program at Cornell University Medical School has a comprehensive curriculum and offers students research opportunities and simulation training.

  While working on their research projects, students work closely with an established investigator. Students are encouraged to pursue these research opportunities that fit their interests.