The Brown University Program in Surgery is structured as a five-year program leading to eligibility for certification by the American Board of Surgery. Broad exposure to the components of general surgery and to the surgical subspecialties is gained through rotations at the core facilities: Rhode Island Hospital, Miriam Hospital, VA Medical Center and Memorial Hospital. In addition to the five categorical residents accepted into the program, up to seventeen interns are accepted into a preliminary program for one to three years of education in general surgery prerequisite to entering programs in various surgical subspecialties.

The primary goal of the program is to produce superior clinical and academic surgeons who are trained in all facets of modern general surgery. Specifically, this training includes intensive exposure to surgery of the gastrointestinal tract, breast, head and neck, vascular system, endocrine system, trauma, cardiothoracic, pediatric surgery, transplant surgery, and surgical nutrition. Surgical residents are part of the operating team in all cases at the affiliated institutions. All residents are afforded a rich operative experience due to the volume and variety of surgical diseases throughout the hospital system. Interns will perform an average of 200 cases during this first year and chief residents will average 1200 cases over five years.

The operative experience of the program is complemented by the rigorous academic conference schedule which is designed to promote resident advancement in surgical knowledge and to develop and hone presentation skills. The interdisciplinary nature of several of the conferences enhances the educational experience of the residents and promotes an appreciation for various views and approaches to surgical problems and issues.

In recognition of the need for both clinical and academic physicians in the current and future healthcare environments, the program offers two tracks to categorical residents. Those residents who wish to pursue an academic surgical career may enter into two years of basic science research in one of many available research opportunities following their PGY-2 year. The Department of Surgery represents one of the most highly funded and productive clinical and science research departments in the Brown University School of Medicine. The second clinical track allows for completion of the categorical program in five years.

Your growth as a surgeon should parallel your personal development. During your training, many of you will form close, lifelong relationships both inside and outside the hospital. Do not neglect these relationships. We encourage you to continue hobbies and interests that make you a complete person. These endeavors will not only be fruitful for you in your personal growth, but will benefit your patients, by providing them a balanced, compassionate surgeon.

Our program will provide each of you with the support and resources needed to help maintain and develop these relationships, meet family obligations, and handle any personal issues that you may encounter during your time with us. Surgical training should not become an arduous burden, but come to be an exciting addition to your life with a committed faculty helping each resident to concentrate on and attain his/her career goals.

The quality of education offered by the Brown program ranks highly among its peers, yet a committed faculty continuously search for ways to improve upon the structure. We value your individual participation and feedback regarding your experience. The entire faculty hopes that you will find a balance of clinical and academic activities and enjoy a healthy camaraderie and team spirit with the class of 2002.

William G. Cioffi, M.D.
J. Murray Beardsley Professor & Chairman