General Surgery
Our General Surgery Residency Program has proudly trained residents since 1942. In 1958, the program was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). We prepare motivated physicians to become confident and competent in general surgery.

Wellstar Health System strives to offer an exceptional, personalized environment that prepares the next generation of physicians to deliver the highest quality of healthcare to our community. Wellstar is keenly focused on and committed to ensuring continuity of training for all Wellstar residents, engaging in regular and ongoing bi-directional communication with learners about programmatic improvements and changes, and providing clinical learning environments that support the wellbeing, personal and professional development of all residents, faculty, and staff. To enhance the quality and sustainability of clinical services and the clinical learning environment, Wellstar is working with the ACGME to review opportunities to relocate surgery services and training to the system’s flagship teaching hospital which will provide residents with enhanced educational experiences and contemporary facilities with state-of-the-art surgical suites and equipment.

Extraordinary preparation with the focus on collaboration
The setting is a Level I urban trauma center that annually admits more than 3,000 patients with diverse injuries. General surgery residents receive early operative experience and finish with 1,200-1,400 cases. This intimate program is distinguished by the close connection between residents and attending staff, and the strong esprit de corps among residents.
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Variety of Clinical Settings and Cases
Wellstar surgery residents pursue 10 clinical rotations at 7 clinical sites. The teaching staff includes esteemed academic and private volunteer faculty. Residents are exposed to the gamut of experiences—urban and rural/suburban communities, insured and uninsured patients, and both “bread and butter” and complex cases.
Hands-on Experience Starts Early
The focus on experiential, hands-on learning starts early. Beginning in year one, residents gain operating room experience and are involved in trauma and surgical critical care. There’s a strong focus on building competence in “bedside” procedures.
Connection and Camaraderie
Wellstar surgery residents are a spirited group of men and women who form close bonds over the course of their training. Social and academic highlights include the annual intern welcome party, our intramural flag football team, Monthly Journal Club, outing to Topgolf, and the much-anticipated annual graduation dinner. Aside from these formal opportunities are the daily interactions that build camaraderie among residents and attending physicians.
Curriculum
Hands-on, experiential learning starts in the first year and continues throughout the residency. Teaching faculty is deeply committed to providing the best in surgical education. Faculty members are always available and fully integrate their clinical practices into the training program. Residents also learn from outstanding community surgeons at Wellstar and our integrated teaching sites.

Clinical rotations include: General Surgery, Trauma Surgery/Surgical Critical Care, Vascular Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Transplant Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Thoracic Surgery and Breast Surgery.
Wellstar surgery residents are strongly encouraged to participate in research projects that lead to publication and/or presentation at regional and national scientific meetings. Travel involved with publications and presentations is financed by the Graduate Medical Education program. All Wellstar residents become certified in ATLS, FLS and FES; those interested may become ATLS instructors.

Medical Students

Wellstar offers qualified third and fourth-year medical students the opportunity to pursue a core or elective clerkship in General Surgery. The focus is on hands-on training in an exciting urban healthcare environment with diverse and often complex patient conditions.

The clerkship program is affiliated with the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and Mercer University School of Medicine. Students apply through their home medical school and are required to submit an application through the Alliance for Clinical Experience Matching and Placement Program (ACEMAPP). We also accept applications through the Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS) for the fourth-year rotations.

Students provide their own housing during the clerkship, often staying with friends or relatives in the Atlanta area or in nearby housing. Participants give the program high marks and benefit greatly from the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to “real world” healthcare.

Requirements include:

  • A letter of good standing from your home medical school
  • Basic Life Support certification
  • Advanced Life Support certification
  • Copy of your transcript

Wellstar welcomes interested medical students to learn more and apply for a rotation. For more information please contact Ashley Thomas at [email protected] or by phone, (404) 265-4158.

Leadership & House Staff
How to Apply
Our interview schedule begins in early November and continues through February. Please note that interviews are by invitation and will be scheduled for Friday evenings and Saturday mornings during the time period listed. We welcome your interest in Wellstar’s Residency Program in General Surgery!

Questions? Contact Program Coordinator Kathy Fayne.
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