Central Iowa Health System (Iowa Methodist Medical Center) Program

The General Surgery Residency Program at Iowa Methodist Medical Center is a fully accredited five-year training program that offers early operative exposure, progressive autonomy for residents, and flexibility to cater to individual career goals. The program operates in a diverse environment with training opportunities at various facilities, including tertiary care centers, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, outpatient surgery centers, pediatric hospitals, and county hospitals.

Residents in the program receive extensive training in trauma surgery, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery, performing about 1,000 surgical procedures over five years, with a focus on meeting ABS Requirements. The faculty is dedicated to teaching and academic excellence, ensuring a supportive environment for residents to develop strong surgical and clinical skills in both common and complex surgical interventions.

The training facilities include Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Blank Children's Hospital, Methodist West Hospital, Broadlawns Medical Center, VA Medical Center of Central Iowa, and Lakeview Surgery Center, providing a diverse patient demographic for a comprehensive learning experience.

The program boasts a faculty team with diverse expertise, including directors specializing in Cardio-Thoracic, Pediatric, Trauma, Vascular, Surgical Oncology & Transplant, Plastics, and Endocrine surgery. The curriculum includes a structured rotation schedule across various specialties and comprehensive didactic sessions covering basic and clinical surgical topics.

Furthermore, the program offers a range of benefits for residents, including access to health insurance plans, retirement 401k, life and liability insurance coverage, disability coverage, paid vacation, and financial support for textbooks, education, and approved medical meetings.

In terms of the application process, the program considers various factors like academic and clinical performance, letters of recommendation, personal qualities, and achievements. Applicants are required to submit essential documents such as letters of recommendation, Dean's Letter, Medical School Transcript, Personal Statement, results of standardized tests, and must meet specific criteria for international graduates.

The program has a track record of producing successful graduates who consistently pass the American Board of Surgery examinations. A significant portion of graduates pursue careers in broad-based general surgery, while others pursue competitive fellowship positions to specialize further.

For medical students, the program offers rotations at Iowa Methodist Medical Center for both third and fourth-year students, providing hands-on surgical experience under the guidance of faculty and residents.

Overall, the Iowa Methodist Medical Center General Surgery Residency Program offers a comprehensive and supportive training environment for residents to develop into skilled and knowledgeable surgeons.