From the Program Director
We are proud of the long history of surgery at Columbia. Although the hospital has relocated more than once in the two centuries since John Jones was the first Professor of Surgery at Kings College, our tradition of excellence has remained constant. We have many heroes, beginning with Dr. Jones and continuing with more familiar names such as Whipple, Blakemore, Voorhees and most recently Reemtsma and Rose. However, we remain most proud of our tradition of distinction in the training of surgical residents.
Despite the constantly changing environment, our training program remains committed to continuing our long tradition of turning out leaders in surgery. To that end, we strive to provide a broad-based clinical experience and diverse research opportunities in a supportive and flexible environment. Furthermore, as the delivery of surgical care in both academic and non-academic settings becomes more complicated, we have redesigned our curriculum to prepare our graduates for both current and future challenges.
The Department has a well-balanced training program that includes all of the subdivisions of general surgery, and concentrates on providing progressive responsibility within a rectangular categorical 5-year program. Each rotation is designed primarily for the education of the residents and all are in full compliance with both the New York State and ACGME work hour regulations. The extensive clinical experience is enhanced by an atmosphere of warm collegiality and cooperation. We hope that it creates some semblance of a family-like atmosphere.
Although research experience is not considered mandatory, most residents elect to spend 1, 2 or even more years in a variety of research areas extending from molecular biology to outcome studies. The Department’s dedication to research can be seen in its organization which includes separate divisions for both Surgical Sciences and Surgical Outcomes. In addition, the Department has an NIH training grant available to its residents and pilot projects by residents are competitively supported by departmental funds. Residents frequently participate at national and international meetings as participants and presenters.
In addition to an education in the science and clinical practice of surgery, the residents are exposed to training in teaching, practice management, health care delivery systems, and the maintenance of databases for clinical research. Professionalism, communication and management skills, and quality assurance measures are all included in the training program. Given the complex nature of contemporary surgery, we feel that only by providing such a balanced educational program can we continue to train the future leaders of surgery.
In the face of the many changes in surgical training and in the medical environment in general, our surgical residency has not merely survived but excelled, displaying (in the words of our Chairman, Dr. Eric Rose) an ?irrational optimism.?
We hope that you will join us in our quest to become a national leader in surgical education as we continue to maintain our excellence in clinical skills, innovative research and the training of a future generation of leaders in surgery.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Hardy, M.D.
Auchincloss Professor of Surgery and Program Director
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