Department of Surgery

The Department of Surgery considers the training of residents and medical students one of its highest priorities.

The Department’s educational goals for graduate and undergraduate surgical medical education are accomplished by providing ongoing educational services, by implementing and evaluating educational innovations, and by conducting educational research to improve the quality of the medical education process. The Department endeavors to promote a positive and effective educational environment for faculty, surgical residents and medical students.

The Department of Surgery Education Office coordinates undergraduate surgical medical education, which takes place primarily in the third- and fourth-year clerkships. The UK College of Medicine graduates about 100 students each year.

The Department's Preliminary Surgery program offers one year of clinical surgical training to residents who pursue further training in either a surgical subspecialty or a non-surgical specialty. The program is ideal for those who choose careers in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology, or urology. The program's curriculum provides a broad-based experience in all surgical specialties, allowing the resident to participate in the care and treatment of patients with a diverse array of conditions. Basic topics that cover the principles for preoperative and postoperative care of the surgical patient serve as the curricula for the resident education program. Operative experience depends on the skills, abilities, and preferences of the resident. The program is available to residents who will continue their training at the UK Chandler Medical Center or at another institution.