Surgery

Students should contact the Clerkship Director, Dr. Schneider.

Block 1: Step 2 prep and Step 2; Block 2- Block 7: Surgery Rotations

Recommended Courses for General, Vascular Surgery

AI/Acting Internship
2 acting internships in surgery in first 2 trimesters

Electives
2

Recommended Courses for Cardiothoracic Surgery

AI/Acting Internship
Cardiothoraic Surgery or Thoracic (Non Cardiac) Surgery

CC/Critical Care
Critical Care Elective

Electives
Cardiothoraic Surgery, Cardiology or Vascular Surgery

Recommended Courses for Neurosurgery

AI/Acting Internship
Neurosurgery home, 2 away rotations

CC/Critical Care
Neuro critical care

ACS/Advanced Clinical Selective
Anesthesia

Electives
Pathology, other surgical subspecialty, other icu, research

For General Surgery, the rotation will have to be in the Divisions of the General Surgery Department. For Vascular Surgery, Rotations will have to be in the Department of General Survey with the addition of 1 AI in Vascular Surgery.

Away rotations are suggested but not mandatory.

It is a general rule that at least 1 rotation is to be attended at UNC Central, if application phase was attended in Charlotte, Asheville, Greensboro, Raleigh, or Wilmington.

A career goal advisor should be selected in October of App Phase. A meeting should be scheduled in September/ October to set up the 4 th year schedule.

For General Surgery: 1. Chair’s Letter; 2. Division Chief’s Letter 3. and 4. Surgeons the student has worked during his/her/t 4th year. For Vascular Surgery: 1. Chair’s Letter 2. Dr. Farber’s Letter 3. Vascular Surgeon’s Letter 4. Surgeon’s Letter

At the end of the rotation and generally around July-August of the application not residency year.

Students should have insights on their perceived competitiveness in the application process. Meetings with career goal advisors may help in clarifying which programs. In addition, geographic locations, characteristics of programs and their alignment to student’s values and career pursuits (academic vs private practice) are very important factors.

Programs should be notified of any positive news.

Please contact the letter writer and politely request an update.

Email the Program Director, Associate Program Director, or any faculty the student may know in the specific program.

Email the Program Director, Associate Program Director, or any faculty the student may know in the specific program.

Professional thank you letters should be sent to programs. The letter should be hand-written.

It is recommended that if the student is interested in a specific program, an email, letter, or a communication in the form of a phone call should be made with the program director to notify interest.

A program reaching out after an interview, is a statement of interest. The student should politely answer to the communication and if there is any interest engage in further communications.

Competitive applicants will have the following components:

• USMLE Step 2 CK: 250+
• High Pass or Honors grade on Surgery Clerkship
• High Pass or Honors grade on Surgery AI
• Strong letter of recommendation from a full professor / division chief
• Demonstrated commitment to Surgery in Surgery-related volunteer, research, or work projects